Written question asked by Lord Lloyd-Webber (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord McKenzie of Luton (Labour) on Monday, 18 January 2010.

Roads: Advertising Hoardings

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what planning permissions for advertising hoardings and product showrooms beside major roads were granted in 2009; and whether the potential distractions caused by advertising hoardings and showrooms are taken into account in such cases.

Answer: The information requested is not collected centrally. Local planning authorities are required to exercise their powers under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 with regard to, among other things, amenity and public safety. This is set out in regulation 3. Factors relevant to public safety include the safety of persons using any highway; whether the advertisement is likely to obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any traffic sign; or whether the display of the advertisement is likely to hinder the operation of any device for measuring the speed of any vehicle. These principles are reflected in the standard conditions in Schedule 2 to the regulations. Highway safety would also be a material consideration in the determination of planning permissions.

Secondary information