Nightclubs sticking together to outlaw flyposting scourge

Published on Monday 28 April 2008 10:46

NIGHTCLUBS in the Capital have agreed to outlaw flyposting to promote their venues in a bid to clean up the city.

The decision to enforce a ban was made by the 36 members of the Unite scheme, an umbrella organisation for the city's clubs.

Licensees are now in talks with the council to set up four advertising boards to display posters.

Environmental campaigners today said the moves could slash levels of illegal flyposting. Club owners said the self-regulated ban would smarten up the city and create a "level playing field".

At least 250,000 is spent every year by the council to tackle flyposting and graffiti through its dedicated removal squad.

Unite, which was founded to help keep troublemakers out of nightclubs, put forward the plans in co-operation with the police.

Bill McGregor, chairman of Unite and general manager of the Lava & Ignite club in Tollcross, said: "We want to get rid of these posters and help clean up the city. It's obviously illegal and, rightly, the police take action.

"Since every venue would have the same access to official sites, it creates a level playing field commercially. A lot of posters are put up on behalf of record companies and other multi-national companies. Our efforts will not remove it altogether, but this is a great step forward and shows clubs are serious about tackling it."

Council chiefs said they were examining the proposals to create official advertising sites and how they could be managed. A pilot project could see the first site established at the West Port development to gauge its impact. The four boards would each have room for 12 A2-sized posters to be put up.

Attempts to recover clean-up costs from flyposting are often hampered by the council not knowing who was responsible.

Often promoters pay the flyposting teams, rather than venues. In previous years, the council has found flyposters promoting events in its own venues.

Councillor Paul Edie, the city's community safety leader, said: "We are certainly interested in exploring anything which will combat flyposting."

Police chiefs have been working to crack down on serial flyposters, with culprits facing fines of up to 1000. Inspector Bruce Johnston, sector inspector for the city centre, said: "This scheme is a good way to reduce the problem."

Flyposters have launched a campaign to have the authorities recognise the role they play in the city's cultural life. Flyposter Cameron Ford said: "I'm in favour of legal sites, but I don't believe the council will provide them.

"You will never stop flyposting, and smaller clubs will be pushed to the sidelines."