Flyposting is defined as ”the display of advertising material on buildings and street furniture without the consent of the owner” and it is illegal under the Town and Country Planning Act and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Flyposting can be divided into three broad types, each with their own characteristics and problems of control:

• Adverts primarily for local events, often photocopies put up in large numbers on a regular basis. These may advertise bands playing in pubs, or car-boot sales. They may be attached to lampposts, railings and street furniture or pasted on buildings.
• Posters advertising products of large organisations and put up by professional poster ‘companies’. These are usually large high quality, colour posters, such as for record releases. They are often pasted on vacant buildings and signal control/telecoms boxes.
• Posters displayed by pressure groups or political bodies. These are generally ad hoc and sporadic with no clear pattern to their location.

It is also illegal to place "A" Frames advertising businesses on the highway without the consent of the Highways Authority (Kent Highways 08458 247 800) you will also need planning permission if you intend to place them on the highway.  If "A" Frames are placed on the highway without consent or planning permission, the Council reserve the right to remove them as litter.

What is the Cost of Flyposting?

ENCAMS, the environmental charity that runs the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, estimates that a good proportion of the £342 million of public money that is spent every year clearing litter is used to combat flyposting.

Flyposting can make neighbourhoods look squalid and unsafe especially if they are blighted with graffiti and vandalism.

The first ever ASBO for flyposting was given to man in Nottingham in May 2004 and the second, on senior executives of two major record companies, was successfully sought in the courts by Camden Council a week later. In applying for the ASBO the council defined flyposting as causing “harassment, alarm or distress” – the criteria required to gain an order. Lasting two years, ASBOs aim to prevent bad behaviour and can stop offenders entering certain areas.

Environmental Services does not have the powers to deal with illegal flyposting, this should either be dealt with by the Planning Department under Section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act or Kent Highways (08458 247 800) under Section 132 of The Highways Act (1980)