By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting
Billboards will be banned in Enniscorthy, and any remaining after May 31st will be removed by Wexford County Council, it was revealed at today’s (Tuesday) Enniscorthy Municipal District Council meeting held in the Council Chamber, Presentation Centre. Cllr Aidan Browne, Cathaoirleach, presided.
The meeting heard that the Council has issued correspondence to businesses in the town to advise that the use of advertising structures on or along public paths and roadways is not permitted.
It was argued that the unauthorised use of advertisement structures including sandwich boards and bollard sleeves can cause difficulties for the public, particularly those with visual impairments and people relying on mechanised support for mobility.
It was also suggested that structures also detract from the presentation of the town centre. No mention was made that billboards and outdoor advertising, particularly by the hospitality industry, can define the character of a town and has done so since the days of street markets.
There was full support for the ban from Cllrs Aidan Browne, John O’Rourke and Pat Kehoe, while Cllr Jackser Owens said that shops are closing down, advertising is their business, he suggested that “more businesses will close down” and he stated that the “business community is not very happy with it”.
District Manager Claire Lawlor confirmed that “we have received a lot of complaints, and we are looking at ways to come up with alternatives” such as using windows or the telephone stand recently erected on Rafter Street.
Unauthorised structures including sandwich boards and bollard sleeves are subject to the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts, The Litter Acts and the Roads Acts.
Business have been requested to reconsider the use of these structures, discontinue and remove the structures without the need for further involvement of the Council.
Unauthorised structures which remain in place after the 31st May,2025 will without any further notice be removed by Wexford County Council.
No undertaking is given in respect of items removed, Wexford County Council will not be responsible for storing nor for any damage arising and may attach costs for storage or retrieval.
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