Clampdown on temporary housing signs

STEPS are being taken to reduce the number of signs on West Lothian's roads and paths.

Members of the West Lothian Council executive have agreed to implement a more robust system to control temporary signs that are used to direct potential house buyers to new developments.

The move will also see the introduction of a fee for housebuilders to cover the costs involved with the erection, maintenance and removal of the signs.

Robert De Bold, executive councillor for the environment, said: "At the moment, signs are allowed to stay up for up to six months following the completion of construction. Some housebuilders seek the necessary approval to erect such signs, which allows the council to minimise the risk of clutter and ensure the signs comply with traffic regulations.

"However, the majority of builders fail to seek approval to erect their signs and fail to remove them after construction has been completed. This has resulted in some areas becoming cluttered with signs that are often in poor condition and are a blight on the landscape.

"Some roads are cluttered with irrelevant signs which can be confusing and present hazards to motorists.

Where housebuilders fail to comply with the regulations, the council will pursue enforcement action."