Trial for road banner protester

A protester who displayed a banner on his home about a new road scheme will stand trial for breaching planning laws.

Richard Butler, 42, opposes the £35m Connecting Derby road scheme. It would complete the city's inner ring road.

He pleaded not guilty before Derby magistrates on 1 September and a trial date has been sent for 4 October.

Derby City Council is prosecuting the Kedleston Road resident under the Town and Country Planning Act.

In a separate case, another resident, Trevor Lloyd Davis, of Friargate, will face similar charges later this month.

'Road would damage homes'

The two men displayed their banners as part of a campaign to urge people to lobby against the road plan.

Both men claim that if the scheme goes ahead, it will damage their properties.

The council says they both need full planning permission to have a banner on their homes.

The Derby Heart group says this is the first time the council has taken anyone to court on the issue, despite several pubs in the city sporting several banners.