Ban the banner success in Crouch End

1:30pm Thursday 2nd October 2008

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Gaudy fast-food banners that residents claim are ruining the Crouch End conservation area are to be taken down.

The Kentucky Fried Chicken adverts displayed on lamp post banners are to be taken down to the delight of residents and politicians who campaigned against them.

Opponents complained the banners ruined the parade in Crouch End Broadway and set a bad example to children and young people.

A “ban the banner” petition collected 77 signatures calling for their removal, but Haringey Council denied the campaign influenced its decision to take down the posters.

A spokeswoman said: “They were due to be taken down anyway as their term has expired.”

She said the banners were a “cost-effective” way of providing council information while giving local groups and businesses the opportunity to advertise economically.

Liberal Democrat councillor David Winskill, who represents Crouch End ward, said: “It’s incredible the council would flog off advertising in one of our town centres to fast food outlets in the first place — it’s even more incredible it took the end of the contract to get these things off our streets.

“The banners are gaudy, tasteless and unwanted in an area like Crouch End.

“Haringey Council is obsessed by advertising with little thought of the impact on local communities and residents living in a conservation area,” he added.

“It now needs to ensure future contracts only allow appropriate advertising sensitive to the local area, but banning the banners must be their first objective.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, who contacted KFC’s managing director to demand an end to the advertising campaign, said: “It’s good news that Haringey Council has finally seen the light, but this is only one battle in the war to preserve our conservation areas. ”