Minister gives rural billboard pledge

Fears had been raised that the countryside would be spoilt

Reports that the countryside will become plagued by commercial billboards have been strongly denied by Environment Minister Michael Meacher.

When asked to give an assurance that billboards would not be erected in places where there are none at the moment he said: "I can."

I don't want to see billboards and hoardings over the countryside.

Michael Meacher

The proposed changes would see Areas of Special Control status, which bans billboards, dropped from about 80% of the countryside, leaving just national parks, conservation areas and areas of special scientific interest billboard free.

Local authorities would retain discretion in other areas.

Mr Meacher denied that the changes were intended to become a cash cow for struggling farmers who could benefit from the move by erecting advertising hoardings on their land.

Mr Meacher told the BBC that the belief of the Council for the Protection of Rural England that the countryside would become "cluttered" was "nonsense".

He added: "The rules concerning advertising have not been changed. There will be no relaxation in the need for the express consent of the local authority. It will be no easier to get consent for advertising under the new regulations than it was under the old."

Mr Meacher also accused the Conservatives of stirring up a row on the issue by deliberately misunderstanding the proposals.

Controls in place

The minister continued: "I don't want to see billboards and hoardings over the countryside.

"I'm opposed to cluttering the countryside. I want to see the countryside remaining beautiful and tranquil as we all know it to be.

"The controls that remain in place will ensure that that happens. Local authorities will still have to give their permission as to whether or not a particular advertisement should be permitted and I am quite sure that they are not about to let this happen. That is certainly what I intend."

Erosion of the countryside

But speaking for the CPRE, Tony Buton said: "We need to keep a clear distinction between town and country and we need to keep the open character of the countryside."

The government's plans he said would "rapidly erode the quality of the countryside and would rapidly urbanise the countryside".

He said there was "no reason to change policy for the worse."