As we run into the final week of the election people are asking questions about election posters, here is the guidance issued to all candidates:

LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

SECTION 132 OF THE HIGHWAYS ACT 1980

The County Council as local highway authority hereby consent to the display of posters within the highway for the purposes of parliamentary and local government elections subject to the following conditions:

(a)      Posters must not be displayed within 25 metres of an entrance to a polling place nor more than 200 metres from such an entrance.  In addition, there must be no more than two posters per candidate within the permitted area of each entrance.

(b)      Posters may only be fixed to existing structures within the highway using non-ferrous materials.  This consent does not authorise the erection of free-standing boards within the highway for the purpose of displaying posters.

(c)      Posters may not be displayed so as to impede either visibility at road junctions or pedestrian crossings or the free movement of highway users so as to obscure traffic signs.

(d)      Posters which overhang a footway must be securely fixed at a minimum height of 2 metres above the ground.

(e)      Adhesives must not be used for fixing posters.

(f)       Posters must not be erected earlier than 48 hours before the Election Day and must be removed within 14 days after the close of the poll.

(g)      Posters which are not erected or removed in accordance with the above conditions will be removed by County Council staff to the appropriate local highway depot from where they may be collected.  The County Council will be entitled to recover from those responsible for the display of such posters the cost of securing their removal.

(h)      In this consent the word “poster” means any written or pictorial matter displayed on behalf of a candidate for a parliamentary or local government election.

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS WILL NOT GIVE CONSENT TO THE SITING OF POSTERS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF TRUNK ROADS.  ALL POSTERS WILL BE REMOVED FROM TRUNK ROADS.

ANDY GUTHERSON

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLACE

In addition, attention is drawn to the following:

1.       Contravention of the terms of the above consent may lead to prosecution under Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980 and to a fine.

2.       Those displaying posters may be liable for any resulting damage or injury; no such liability is accepted by the County Council by virtue of this consent.

3.       This consent is given without prejudice to:

(a)      Any requirements affecting the display of election material.

(b)      Any other consent or permission which may be required for the fixing of posters to objects within the highway.

Written notification of the location of all proposed posters within the areas of the seven Lincolnshire Districts Councils shall be made to:

Lincolnshire County Council, Place Directorate, Highways Services, Lancaster House, 36 Orchard Street, Lincoln, LN1 1XX

Tel: 01522 782070, Email: [email protected]

Please send lists received to [email protected] care of the Local Highways Managers: