BURY councillors have vowed to take action over illegal street advertising in a bid to boost safety on the borough's highways.

Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People has pressed the council to improve access on pavements in Bury, many of which are home to advertising boards.

Complaints have also been received from Bury residents calling for illegal advertising to be curbed, protecting the general appearance of the town.

At a traffic and engineering sub-committee meeting on Monday, councillors discussed plans for bringing those responsible to account.

Borough engineer Mike Cannon explained: "In the past we have adopted a softly softly approach in an attempt to persuade people rather than automatically taking the legal route.

"This has not been a success and now a system will be introduced whereby notices are served on the perpetrators of illegal advertising.

"We will give them time to remove the offending objects or we will remove them and impose a £30 standard charge for their recovery. Persistent offenders will be prosecuted.

"The council has a disability strategy to make sure people at risk are catered for and blind and partially sighted people are a vulnerable group in these circumstances." Mr Sid Pritchard, honorary chairman of Bury Society for Blind and Partially Sighted People, said: "We have monitored the situation in Bury and have liaised with the council on the issue. We are powerless but provide the council with information for them to take action. We have been concerned for some time about the hazards faced by people going about their business in Bury. A white cane will not always alert a person to an advertising board in the street.

"Any moves to clear walkways have got to be good but many shopkeepers advertise in a reasonable way and it is a matter of only removing adverts which are hazardous."

People have also contacted the council to protest against cluttering caused by illegal advertising boards and banners including those on lamp-posts and railings.

Drivers have also claimed that advertising hoardings are dangerous, distracting them while behind the wheel.

Mr Cannon added: "Illegal advertising is contrary to our efforts to create a brighter borough. We want all areas of the town to be neat, tidy and attractive to look at.

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