Action over To Let signs

Residents claim the signs are used as free advertising

A long-running battle by residents in Loughborough to rid their streets of scores of To Let signs may be about to end.

Charnwood Borough Council has agreed to ask for government permission to restrict the signs.

Residents in the Storer Road area first complained to the council about the widespread use of signs in their streets four years ago.

Since then the number of boards and the length of time they remain up has increased.

The council had said it did not have the resources to tackle the problem.

Now, however, it is to apply for special powers from the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, to allow it to prevent agents from putting up large numbers of boards.

Residents say they are pleased the unsightly signs are to be banned particularly because they send a signal to criminals that the houses frequently have new occupants.