Agent fined for excessive boards

Monday August 2, 2010

A local estate agent has been fined for putting up too many ‘for sale’ signs on one property.

David Sharron of Ravenscourt Residential, Seven Stars Corner in Shepherds Bush, erected two large boards to sell one house in Cardross Street in the Bradmore conservation area. By law, estate agents are only allowed to put up one double-sided sign per property and the council has already banned boards in eight conservation areas.

Sharron pleaded guilty at West London Magistrates Court on June 22, and was fined £100 and ordered to pay £250 in costs to the council, as well as a £15 victim surcharge.

Cllr Nicholas Botterill, cabinet member for environment, said: “Having this many boards on one property was just excessive and completely unnecessary. We want our local businesses to do well but not at the expense of residents, who have to put up with a forests of boards that ruin our streets.”

The council is continuing to crack down on the forest of agents’ boards in the borough, most recently in a Fulham conservation area. Estate agents displaying unauthorised signs on Harwood Road have been given written warnings that unless the boards are removed, they will be prosecuted.