Election candidates and political groups could soon be banned from displaying campaign posters on a local authority’s land.
During the last European elections, posters in Telford were damaged and defaced - often with offensive language or symbols.
Telford and Wrekin Council’s returning officer Richard Partington has written to election agents, parish councils and leaders of all political groups to get their feedback on a proposed ban.
‘I don’t think this is a problem that we have faced here in Telford and Wrekin before and it is a great shame that it happened,’ he said.
‘We have had a protocol in place that permitted election posters on council owned assets and this generally worked well. However, during the European elections we received complaints and the council incurred costs immediately taking down posters that had offensive symbols or language on them.
‘We also had some complaints about the proliferation of signs and that some were not taken down until long after the 14 day “grace” period post-election.
‘I want to hear the views of those involved in elections and local people over these proposals so that we can be clear before the elections in May 2015,’ Partington said.
