Signs of the time!

Free advertising...?

Twice on the same - recently rebuilt property....?

These blatant advertisement boards have been placed on the refurbished house on the corner of Somerville Road and Chadwell Heath Lane. I have complained about the signage as local residents from the Somerville Road Neighbourhood Watch have complained about the effect of the signage, which they believe "brings the area down".

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Surprisingly, despite my complaints, the officer I have reported the items too has failed to provide a report on any action taken?

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My security company is protecting various empty property in Ilford preventing squatters and vandalism. We have installed warning signs that do not advertise our services but warn of our presence. It provides a emergency telephone number for residents to report any concerns or for statutory organisations to attain access to the property. The council is suggesting these signs should be removed even though it is obvious the signs are not advertising. This convention of adding warning signs is a process that stems centuries of security provision and is a practice undertaken by security companies pan-UK. What makes the story even more despairing is that our warning signs were affixed by our clients....?

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I have spoken to industry bodies and all of them have never heard of any previous council taking such ridiculous action. This include the Security Industry Authority and the lead journal for our industry "Security Management Today" They are all waiting for the decision considering the implication it will have on our industry globally!

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Sometimes, I wonder if any of our Council Officers -who are obviously overpaid judging by the article in this weeks Ilford Recorder - may be bolstering their income by choosing to ignore, some signs, in preference of challenging more innocent victims in their attempts to exude more money out of the system. Only recently we heard of the conviction of former Conservative Councillor Suresh Kumar with respect to a £10,000 bung being requested from a contractor with respect to pushing through a planning application. If I am elected I will definitely ask for better transparency in the planning application process and need for scrutiny of all decisions made.

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I have challenged the Council on the validity of their action and will keep residents informed (read this weeks Yellow Advertiser).

In the meanwhile, I will ask the council to remove the blatant advertising detailed in the pictures above in response to resident concern.