BOSSES at Dorset Waste Partnership have urged people to report any incidents of fly-posting after an estate agent was criticised for putting up posters without permission in Christchurch.

Saxe Coburg based in Canford Cliffs in Poole, have been advertising their sponsorship of the Christchurch Food Festival by planting posters on boards along public highways including Barrack Road and the Christchurch bypass.

Town mayor Cllr Lesley Dedman said: “These posters are springing up everywhere now.

“At first glance it looks as though they are promoting Saxe Coburg rather than the actual food festival. It’s taking the mickey, because some local traders around here get into trouble just for putting an A-board outside their shops.”

Festival spokeswoman Sue Harmon-Smith said they hadn’t any complaints about the posters but added: “If what they are doing is not permitted by the BCP council, then we would definitely ask them to remove some of the boards which are not on private land.”

Neil Smith, Planning Enforcement Officer, BCP Council told the Echo:

“We have been made aware of unauthorised adverts being posted in Christchurch and have asked the company to remove the boards. They have informed us that this will be actioned this as soon as possible.”

Julian Hewlett, area manager for Saxe Coburg said: “We do feel a little aggrieved about all this because we did ask permission to promote it and the festival organisers gave us authorisation.

“It’s not as if it was just done for selfish motives. We want to promote the festival which is an important event. The boards weren’t going to be there for long – it was just to help build awareness in the run up to the festival which is only a couple of weeks away.”

Karyn Punchard, Director of the Dorset Waste Partnership added:

“If you spot any instances of illegal fly-posting in Christchurch, please report these to us online at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/recycling. Please also note that enforcement action can be taken against companies that fly-post under the Highways Act 1980, Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992, and the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.”