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1240/5(2644)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2005
Question
"Would the President inform members whether the Committee is monitoring the display of election posters and boards in terms of their positioning for purposes of road safety and for compliance with planning requirements and, if so, whether any have been found to be in breach of the foregoing requirements and, if so, what action the Committee is taking in this respect, if any?"
Answer
"I can confirm that the Environment and Public Services Committee, through the Department, is actively monitoring election posters and boards. Although this form of advertising is not exempted under the Advertisement Regulations, successive Committees have considered it both impractical and unreasonable to expect election candidates to apply for permission, particularly since charges were introduced in 1997.
However, the Committee fully acknowledges that the health and safety of both road users and pedestrians is paramount and cannot be compromised. If any material is considered to compromise road safety in any way, the relevant candidate is contacted and advised. Guidelines on what the Committee considers to be reasonable advertising have been drawn up and circulated to candidates who have requested advice.
The guidelines will be reviewed following the senatorial elections.
The Department will chase candidates who fail to remove election posters within a reasonable period after the election, although this has rarely been necessary. Furthermore, at a time when the States is actively encouraging the public to use its vote, it seems perverse to restrict advertising and put bureaucratic barriers in the way of election candidates.
Guidance which has been circulated to all candidates is attached."