Council plea over Referendum fly-posting and road sign damage

17th August 2014

The Highland Council is appealing to campaigners on both sides of the Scottish Independence Referendum and members of the public to heed the Council's Highland Referendum Poster Policy and not fall foul of the law.

The public are being advised that only the 15 Referendum Agents registered for The Highland Council area are allowed to display referendum posters on verges and lighting columns under the Council's ownership and control.

Also, under The Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 - Referendum Agents have been made aware that it is an offence to publish referendum material without printer / promoter details printed on it.

Individuals and groups (who are not Referendum Agents) should refrain from fly-posting stickers or daubing graffiti on Council properties, such as buildings, lamp-posts, bus shelters and street furniture. Postering by members of the public will be deemed as fly-posting and if caught the Council will prosecute offenders and seek recovery of the cost of removal.

Council officers are detecting an increasing amount of Referendum material in Highland communities.

William Gilfillan, Director of Community Services said: "The removal of posters and stickers with adhesive material is time-consuming and expensive. We echo the recent appeal from our neighbours in Moray about the damage of campaign stickers to road signs.

"They said that ‘...stickers were causing damage to road signs when Council roads staff had to remove them, and engineers claimed would lead to shortened life and significant costs for replacements. The strong adhesive used on the stickers pulls a protective layer off with it when they are removed. Road signs are made using a laminated system, and it is this top layer of clear plastic that is being damaged when road-staff peel the stickers off. This leaves the sign vulnerable to water ingress and corrosion, which shortens their life considerably.'

"As the referendum is still five weeks away this is likely to increase, so we urge campaigners to refrain from causing damage to Council property."

Guidance is available in the Highland Referendum Poster Policy on the Council’s website.

Anyone with any concerns about Referendum fly-posting should contact the Council’s Service Point on 01349 886606.

Notification of Appointment of Referendum Agents

In accordance with Section 17(6) of the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013, the following Permitted Participants have appointed a Referendum Agent for the Highland Council area:

Permitted Participant - Better Together 2012 Limited
Name and Address of Agent - Andrene Maxwell, 83 Glengarry Road, Inverness IV3 8NJ
Permitted Participant - Alistair McConnachie
Name and Address of Agent - Alistair McConnachie, 268 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR
Permitted Participant - Yes Scotland Limited
Name and Address of Agent - Norman Will, 5b Blackwell Avenue, Culloden, Inverness, IV2 7DY
Permitted Participant - Scottish National Party
Name and Address of Agent - John Robertson, 3 Duncan Drive, Nairn IV12 4SQ
Permitted Participant - Liberal Democrats
Name and Address of Agent - Adam Stachura, 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5DR
Permitted Participant - Farming4Yes
Name and Address of Agent - Neale McQuistin, High Airyolland, New Luce, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, DG8 0AU
Permitted Participant - Labour Party
Name and Address of Agent - John Robert Erskine, 44 Braes of Conon, Conon Bridge, Dingwall, IV7 8AX
Permitted Participant - Conservative Party
Name and Address of Agent -Sir Edward Mountain, Delfur Lodge, Orton, Moray, IV32 7QQ
Permitted Participant - Wings Over Scotland
Name and Address of Agent - Garve Scott-Lodge, 47b Drummond Road, Inverness, IV2 4NU
Permitted Participant - Scottish Green Party
Name and Address of Agent - Eleanor Scott, Tir Na Orin, 8 Culcairn Road, Evanton, Ross and Cromarty, IV16 9YT
Permitted Participant - Generation Yes
Name and Address of Agent - Kirsten Thornton, 272 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JR
Permitted Participant - Scottish Independence Convention
Name and Address of Agent - Richard Laird, 4 Maple Drive, Inverness, IV3 5RJ
Permitted Participant - Radical Independence Campaign
Name and Address of Agent - Margaret Mulholland, 16 Glenburn Road, Inverness, IV2 4ND
Permitted Participant - Women For Independence
Name and Address of Agent - Susan Jane Lyons, Morayhill Farmhouses, Dalcross, Inverness, IV2 2JQ
Permitted Participant - Business for Scotland Limited
Name and Address of Agent - Caroline Key, 6 Lochview Terrace, Gartcosh, G69 8BA