Campaign to ban 'To Let' signs

A blanket ban on 'To Let' signs in Cathays could come into place following extensive evidence of nuisance signposts in the area.

Persistent complaints from residents in the area who, due to the large population of student lettings in Cathays are plagued by a tirade of signage from agencies causing concern over safety and appearance, spirited the campaign.

Student liaison officer Keiran McCann has been mapping the number of 'To Let' signs as evidence which he submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government.

McCann said:

"The community has concerns not only with how unattractive the signs make the general street scene, but that they are displayed for long lengths of time.

"Residents in these properties are dismayed at the inconvenience of the signs often in inconvenient places and they are a worry for the police due to security and safety issues that arise."

At this week's partnerships and communities together meeting (pact) representatives from the local policing team agreed the signs were cause for safety concern because they allow people to lurk around the outside house under the pretence of considering it as a property.

The motion put forward to the Assembly Government is for a blanket ban on all signs in the area – and non-nuisance signs (such as for sale signs) being allowed to move quickly through an application process to allow their signs to go up. McCann told residents at the pact meeting he had considered a voluntary code but this would evade the real culprits. He said:

"We need some sort of formal authority to take action and so we want the Welsh Assembly Government to remove all signs in the area and we needed this evidence to show it."

McCann has also consulted ALMA (the landlords association) which has voluntarily agreed to remove their signs and another on-foot survey is underway to see whether this has improved the situation.

Do you think 'To Let' signs are a nuisance? Would you like to see a blanket ban in your area? Leave your comments below.