By Geraldine McKelvie

THE LEADER of Dundee City Council has said he will seek meetings with the roads and transportation department about illegal flyposting at the busy Claypotts junction on Arbroath Road.

Ken Guild, a councillor for the Ferry ward which includes the junction, deemed Chamber Practice Fixed Price Estate Agency and the Wholesale Bathroom Warehouse “completely irresponsible” for placing large advertisements on the railings.

He also said he found it “very strange” that Chamber Practice, a solicitors firm, had openly violated the law.

“I’ll be speaking to the roads and transportation department as soon as possible to see that the posters are removed,” he said.

“It’s dangerous, not to mention illegal. I’m very surprised that a branch of a solicitors’ firm would choose to fly post on such a busy junction. It sets a very bad example and they really should know better. Anything that has the potential to distract drivers is an obvious concern—and the busier the road, the greater the risk of an accident.”

However, Mr Guild also rejected the idea that the Wholesale Bathroom Warehouse may not have been aware of the legislation prohibiting fly posting.

“I think most commercial companies are aware it’s illegal. They would have to be pretty dumb not to at least realise the risks involved,” he said.

Ferry ward councillor Derek Scott said the companies should be told to remove the posters.

“I think the companies involved need to be told to take their adverts down and if they refuse to comply, they should be charged with the council’s removal of them,” he said.

Mr Scott pointed out that local branches of political parties were not even allowed to post campaign material on the railings in the run-up to elections and said he was similarly concerned about road safety.

“The posters might obstruct the views of some motorists approaching the junction—from a safety point of view that could be an issue,” he added.

“If the companies have posted the adverts without thinking about this, then it’s a bit irresponsible.”

The Chamber Practice has also posted a large advertisement on the railings outside the Shell garage at the Scott Fyffe roundabout which joins Arbroath Road with the Kingsway.