Has Victoria Atkins Broken the Law?
What a preposterous notion! That Victoria Atkins, daughter of Sir Robert Atkins, a barrister, and Parliamentary Candidate for Louth and Horncastle, would break the law is hard to believe. I expect she would be mortified to learn that her name is associated with an illegal act. However, it appears that somebody who supports her campaign has blundered, and anyone driving far in parts of Lincolnshire today can hardly fail to notice.
Large boards carrying a photo of Victoria and encouragement to the electors of the Louth and Horncastle constituency to vote for her, have been placed on the grass verges of trunk roads.
Victoria or her Election Agent will have received in the election pack from East Lindsey Acting Returning Officer, Stuart Davy, a note from Lincolnshire County Council regarding Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980, providing detailed information about the conditions that the display of posters within the highway for the purposes of elections are subject to.
Excuse the shouting capitalisation, please, but this is how Richard Wills, Director for Development set out to emphasise his message:
"THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY WILL NOT GIVE CONSENT TO THE SITING OF POSTERS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF TRUNK ROADS. ALL POSTERS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUNK ROADS."
The document continues:
"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."
Of course it may well be perfectly legal to display posters on private land, the other side of the fence along the highways, and one may display election posters on non-trunk roads but only within 200 metres but not less than 25 metres from the entrance to a polling station and then only from 48 hours before the election day.
The Louth and Horncastle Conservative Association appears to have flouted the law in both their placement and the timing of election posters.
If you see any of the posters still remaining on the highway I suggest you report the matter to Stuart Davy, Acting Returning Officer on 01507 613430 or election@e-lindsey.gov.uk or the police.
Part 2
Large boards carrying a photo of Victoria and encouragement to the electors of the Louth and Horncastle constituency to vote for her, have been placed on the grass verges of trunk roads.
Victoria or her Election Agent will have received in the election pack from East Lindsey Acting Returning Officer, Stuart Davy, a note from Lincolnshire County Council regarding Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980, providing detailed information about the conditions that the display of posters within the highway for the purposes of elections are subject to.
Excuse the shouting capitalisation, please, but this is how Richard Wills, Director for Development set out to emphasise his message:
"THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY WILL NOT GIVE CONSENT TO THE SITING OF POSTERS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF TRUNK ROADS. ALL POSTERS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRUNK ROADS."
The document continues:
"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."
Of course it may well be perfectly legal to display posters on private land, the other side of the fence along the highways, and one may display election posters on non-trunk roads but only within 200 metres but not less than 25 metres from the entrance to a polling station and then only from 48 hours before the election day.
The Louth and Horncastle Conservative Association appears to have flouted the law in both their placement and the timing of election posters.
If you see any of the posters still remaining on the highway I suggest you report the matter to Stuart Davy, Acting Returning Officer on 01507 613430 or election@e-lindsey.gov.uk or the police.
Part 2
posted by biffvernon at
9:47 am
1 Comments:
Response from Acting Returning Officer's office:
Dear Mr Vernon,
We have nothing whatsoever to do with highways. Therefore this matter would need to be reported directly to Lincolnshire Highways Eastern Department.
Their phone number is; 01522 782070
Or you can email them on mailto:LCCHighwaysEast@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Yours Sincerely,
James Handley
Elections Assistant
East Lindsey District Council
Tedder Hall
Manby Park
Manby
LN11 8UP
01507 601111
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home