February 26, 2019 9.18 am This story is over 61 months old

Lincoln council bans ‘eye-sore’ To Let boards

They will be a thing of the past
Photo Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

‘Eye-sore’ To Let boards which have been a “blight” on streets in Lincoln city centre will be banned.

Senior councillors on City of Lincoln Council voted to ban the advertising boards on selected streets after winning permission from central government.

The plan is to ban the boards on Monks Road, Union Road, Waterloo Street and the West End and Sincil Bank areas.

The council held a survey and found that in some parts of Lincoln 25% of properties were displaying a To Let board.

Central government officials approved a move by the council to enforce the ban after it applied for permission back in February 2018.

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of City of Lincoln Council

Removal of the boards will start from April following the executive’s decision.

Council leader, Ric Metcalfe, said the boards have been a “blight on communities” for too long.

“We’ve responded to what local people have asked us to do and have got government support to do it,” he said.

“We’re going to see a lot of our communities cleared from all these wretched boards that do not need to be there.

“Frankly, they do not serve any purpose other than being a bit of free advertising for agents.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Neil Murray, executive member for economic growth who pushed for the ban, said people in the centre of Lincoln were “fed up” with the advertising boards.

“It’s annoying for people who don’t like it because it clutters up the street and it doesn’t look good,” he said.

“This is a small thing but it’s a tangible thing for people in the central area of Lincoln.

“We’ve been patient but now the government have said that we can do it.”

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