By Kim O'Leary
Kildare County Council has said that it has actively dealt with incidents of illegal signage in the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District over the last 12 months, and that it will carry out a joint inspection of the remaining signage with staff from its planning section.
At the recent Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District which took place on Wednesday 18 July, Cllr Morgan McCabe raised the motion citing that that illegal signage has reached a 'critical level' in Newbridge. In the motion, Cllr McCabe asked members of the municipal district as well as representatives of Kildare County Council to take action or to investigate signage systems that would 'eliminate the need for all the random signage cluttering our environment.'
In its response, the Environment Section confirmed that it has dealt actively with incidents of illegal signage under the litter pollution legislation over the last 12 months and that it has also interacted with owners of signage in many instances, and it said that this interaction and enforcement will continue.
Meanwhile, the Planning Section responded to the motion, stating: 'Depending on the situation, unauthorised signage/advertisement require a specific response and the use of the most appropriate legislation in that instance. The relevant legislation includes the Roads Act, the Litter Pollution Act, and the Planning & Development Act. It is not always straightforward as, for example, under the Planning & Development Regulations; there are a number of exemptions for signage/advertisements, including signage/advertisements for business premises, institutions, public transport, property for sale. local, educational or cultural events, etc. The council uses its powers under the appropriate legislation to have unauthorised signage removed and recover its costs where possible. The members will be aware of recent action taken by the council's Litter Warden. The members will be aware of recent action taken by the council's Litter Warden to signage in the Newbridge area, and that, following discussion at Strategic Policy Committee, the Environment and Planning Departments are to carry out a further joint survey in Newbridge. If members are concerned about specific signage, they might provide details of the respective locations for investigation.'
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