Rogue posters and signs costing taxpayers £60k

THE removal of unauthorised signs and posters in West Lothian is costing taxpayers £60,000 a year, it has been revealed.

Council chiefs are supporting calls for new legislation which would crack down on the problem by making the people and companies responsible pay for the removal costs.

Backing the calls for tougher legislation, West Lothian Council leader Peter Johnston said: "The policy in West Lothian since 2006 has been the removal of any unauthorised signs which are erected on council land and on road verges.

"Typically it is placard signs that relate to house sales which cause the biggest problem. This illegal practice of placing placard signs indiscriminately is known as flyboarding. This should be a wake up call to the perpetrators. You are costing the people of West Lothian money and we will back moves to enable us to reclaim it."