Green Goose

robbin Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > GG are you a lawyer? > I should say, I, > like you, find the adverts and the manner of their > placement extremely annoying and anti-social, so I > can understand your frustration - I'm just not > convinced people should be reaching for their > spray-cans robbin, I am not, however one member of our group is a senior articled clerk who is professionally well briefed on the relevant Acts. And yes, the question of legality has been raised with the Council and we have their unreserved and enthusiastic support for our efforts. GG

This subject merits a separate thread and what better to start the ball rolling than with this serial offender:- http://i1318.photobucket.com/albums/t643/savedelhi/B1Edited_zpse6wl44fl.jpg This is a novel approach but is none the less illegal as it contravenes one or more of the following items of legislation:- Section 224(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Section 132(1) of the Highways Act 1980 Sections 43-47 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 The adverts are attached with tamper-proof screws to the frame of the bike which is in turn attached with a VERY heavy chain. Apart from being illegal, these bikes deny cyclists the opportunity to secure their bikes at places such as railway stations, shopping area etc. Any member of the public is fully entitled to deface or remove these adverts after reporting them to Southwark Council. Happy hunting. GG

Dun, Rather than write, I suggest e-mail with attached photo to [email protected] They also have a Hot Line 020 7525 2000 For good measure always keep a spray can in your back-pack! GG

Dun Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, what about the latest trend in locking a bike > with an advertisement board on it to a "bike > locking station" (sorry mind blank for correct > term)? There are a few bike parking places (look > on parade on Grove Vale by Blackbird Bakery) being > taken by bike locked long term advertising > different businesses but that means I can't lock > my bike there sometimes as other places are full. > Can those be removed? Dun, I had a close look at one of the advertising bicycles yesterday and it is evident they have been seriously prepared. The hard plastic advertising sheets have been attached to thick plywood with non-removable screws and the two plywood sheets are connected to each other (over the cross bar) with similar screws. The bike is then attached to the parking rail with a very serious chain. This is not a casual and brief bit of fly-posting but a serious violation of the law - quite apart from being an inconvenience to others who want to lock up their bikes there. After sending a photo to Southwark, I would suggest either one or both of the following two courses of action. 1. Use a claw hammer (or small pry bar) to rip the plastic sign off the plywood parts. 2. Use a cordless angle grinder to cut the chain and detatch the bike from the lampost. For those who don't want to get that involved, I would suggest using a paint spray can and obliterate the advertising. Good hunting!

Lazero, Simples, get a very wide felt tip marker and write "Scam!" , or "Rip-Off" or something similar and they will soon desist. Oh, and let the air out of all four wheels. Then they won't come back. GG

Nigello Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am still none the wiser as to where you put > them. Do you find a skip, return them to the > agent, break them up and put them in a wood burner > or what? Please let us know so we may do the same. Nigello, You keep asking this question. To satisfy your curiosity, I can assure you that they are recycled. For guidance on what you should do, you can do with them whatever you want. They are in effect illegal advertising materials in a public place. Now I have answered all your questions, just answer two of mine........... 1. How many, if any, have you removed????? 2. Are you employed by an estate agency???? GG

Dun Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, what about the latest trend in locking a bike > with an advertisement board on it to a "bike > locking station" (sorry mind blank for correct > term)? There are a few bike parking places (look > on parade on Grove Vale by Blackbird Bakery) being > taken by bike locked long term advertising > different businesses but that means I can't lock > my bike there sometimes as other places are full. > Can those be removed? Most definitely! It is an illegal attachment of advertising material ( ie fly posting) to what is classified as "street furniture" ie lamp posts, traffic lights, bollards, cabinets etc etc. You are quite within your rights to assist the Council by removing them. As a responsible citizen, you have a community obligation to do so. Just because someone attaches their advertising to a bicycle which is then attached to street furniture does not absolve them from the law. Protect your community and environment by removing these opportunistic and illegal fly postings. If you havn't got a bolt cutters then get a big felt tip pen and write "scam" or "rip-off" of "Cheats" or something similar across it, They soon desist. You will feel a whole lot better when you have done it. GG

Ptolemy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Appreciated here too, Green Goose: I'm currently > staying in a flat overlooking the signs, and was > thinking they were a real eyesore. It's a pleasure > to look over the balcony now! > Update. We took a down whole bunch over this last weekend around Abbots Wood and Glengarry but there are still heaps to go all around E.D. What is evident is that agents will leave the "SOLD" signs up forever as this is free exposure. They are allowed 14 days by law after the sale. So, I urge you all to tear down any sign that says "SOLD" or "LET" that has been up for more than 14 days and then report them to Southwark. GG

Yes, we got played for mugs by the Tooley Street cadre. We can console ourselves at the forthcoming election.

edcam Wrote: > > None. I'd prefer them not to be there in the first > place. It's not up to me to remove them and quite > possibly illegal for me to do so. Here is an excerpt from Lambeth's guidelines http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/estate-agent-boards-guide ""The advertisement shall be removed within 14 days after the completion of a sale or the grant of a tenancy"" Presumably Southwark have similar guidelines. So, after 14 days from sale/letting the signs are illegal. Some of the signs on E.D.R had been there for years! Therefore highly ILLEGAL. http://www.chiswickw4.com/shared/eprop06.htm Don't be a woos! Have some civic pride and pull them down.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My view is that Councillors representing us wanted > this to go through but did not feel it politic to > be upfront about it so used the getout of > appearing sympathetic to local concerns while > stating the process ties their hands. I remember > the same tactic being used for the M&S debacle. > Exactly right. The DCC approved the scheme unanimously which means that every Councillor in Village, East Dulwich and College wards voted on favour of it - irrespective of whether they were Labour, LibDem or Tory. Duplicitous b******s!

There are opportunists who do nothing other than slowly "travel" the streets every day ( You could therefor call them "travelers"). They use white vans or a small truck. They are purely on the lookout for opportunistic "collections" ie anything that isn't bolted down. The vehicle may well have a sign saying refuse collection/disposal. If they see a skip, they will pounce. They take particular interest also where they see a tradesman's vehicle parked in a residential street as there may be easy pickings as the trademan works on-site. Anything is fair game. Therefor do not leave a ladder, bicycle, tools or anything unattended. They are very quick and if challenged they will say that they thought that the item was being discarded and because the item wasn't secured, then they can get away with it. That's all they do. That is the way they run their "business". I reported on once to the police but didn't hear anything subsequently. Nabbing them is not easy.

Have you got a better description of the vehicle like colour, size, make or any unique features? How do you know it was 2 men? Did you see them? As Tesci says, "Every little bit helps"

edcam Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sorry but the sponsored boards create the same > eyesore. Several weeks at a time is too long. How many have you removed then?

No sponsored boards have been removed. By way of clarification, our group specialises in the removal of illegal fly postings - particularly signs promoting businesses/services/sales that are attached to lamp posts and bus shelters. Before removal we photograph them and send the photos to Southwark Council for them to follow up - if they ever do. Where the fly posting is persistent, then we find that writing over it with a felt pen with the word "Scam" or "Con Man" or "Rip-Off" can be very effective in getting them to desist. If it's for an event then writing "Cancelled" over it is worthwhile. We leave notices for missing cats and dogs up for 7 days as after that time if they they haven't come home then they've gone to pets heaven. The secret to effectively controlling fly-posts is to take them down immediately after they first appear. Also, go equipped with a side cutter or similar to cut the plastic ties these morons use to attach their fly-posts. Currently, the worst offender is the "Man with a Van" who advertises widely around Southwark and Lambeth. The scourge of fly-posting can proliferate rapidly and degrade an area very quickly. If you want to preserve and protect your locality, it only takes a little effort.

cactus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks Green Goose, for the part you have played > in getting those signs removed so swiftly! Many thanks for the expression of appreciation.

Nigello Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What did you do with them? If you are an estate agent, send me a PM stating which agency you represent and then I will tell you where you can collect them. GG

cactus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Excessive board use on East Dulwich Road! > I counted 15, and only one is a current For Sale. Direct action has been taken by the Goose Green Vigilantes and ALL these signs have now been removed. Some had evidently been there for years as the steel bands used to attach some of them were very rusty. It is evident that the estate agent have no intention whatsoever of removing these signs as they see it as free advertising - particularly where there are several flats at one location. Also it costs them money to get someone to remove them. Instead of whinging, we all have a responsibility of maintaining the visual amenity of our locality and we should all take direct action to remove these signs. Go to it guys.

If any one knows of a similar excessive proliferation of signs please post the street name here and appropriate steps will be taken to remove them.

se22cat Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Due to the virtually zero police presence in the > area and the perception of ED as being > gentrified/well off, street crime of this nature > goes on unchallenged, sadly. Not entirely true. There is an unmarked police car om L.L. during most of the day. I have seen how effective this is after an attempted mugging outside the Co-op. The Old Bill were on the scene in a matter of seconds. They are often within sight of the HSBC and Barclays cash terminals. Quite effective.

Tessmo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I think it's time we called them to account. The next local elections will be in 2018 but some of us have long memories and will hold these Labour Councillors to account then. In the meantime we have the national election on 7th May to look forward to so a bit of considered tactical voting may be decisive. LibDems could topple them in both Camberwell & Peckham and Dulwich & Norwood given this and other issues.

Thanks but location is close to Ladbroke Grove underground station.

Well put James. And whilst they were doing that, the same Labour lot brought about changes in to legislation that: 1. Brought about the emergence of the No-win No-Fee ambulance chasers like National Accident Help line who continue to make thousand of unsolicited phone calls every day. 2. Brought about the emergence of Pay Day lenders like Wonga who are parasites. GG

Do not believe their figures as I was able to make 305 opposed votes, as a local resident,using their on-line system!! Their system was a farce.

Irrespective of all the leafletting and protests expressed on this thread, I reckon it's all whistling in the wind because of he Labour majority on both the DCC and the Council overall. That said, if 8a goes through, there will be a comeuppance when it comes to the next local elections. Andy especially take note!