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A CONCERNED mum has spoken out about the potential hazards posed by new outdoor advertising boards.
Janette Sheppard is also worried that other parents may think the boards are simply lamp-posts.
She said: "These have just sprung up – one is outside my son's primary school.
"At first glance it would be easy to mistake them for lamp-posts, but they are actually advertising boards.
"There is a small electronic strip at the top which could be used by the council to post information if a child goes missing. I believe the council also gets some revenue from the boards.
"My concern, as a parent, is if the council thinks it's appro-priate to put one of these boards outside a primary school. Our kids are already inundated with advertising – do they really need more? And what kind of advertising is it going to be?"
Mrs Sheppard also queried if planning consent was required for the 2.5 metre (more than eight feet) high posts.
But council chiefs say the posts DO have strong local backing, pay for themselves and won't carry offensive advertising. The system is operated by 247 Outdoor Ltd, whose website says the posts "offer a highly visible platform for advertisers coupled with the innovative 'Amberwatch' inform and warn messaging systems."
Amberwatch – the alert scheme built into the advertising boards – originated in the US in 1996.
Messages cover a range of subjects, from community announcements, road closures, or civic events through to emergency warnings about crime, civil matters and flood warnings.
One of the posts is sited near Linlithgow's Low Port Primary School – where Mrs Sheppard's son is a pupil – and close to Linlithgow Library at the Vennel.
Mrs Sheppard, of Champfleurie, added: "I've spoken to other parents and they're definitely not happy.
''I have raised my concerns with the parent council of Low Port Primary, Councillor Tom Kerr and with council officials. There's a big push by various local organisations to promote Linlithgow as a historic town – are boards like these really in keeping with that?"
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: "The new signs are part of the Amberwatch system, which is designed to allow urgent safety messages to be relayed instantly to the local community. The similar Amber Alerts system in America has been credited with helping locate over 100 missing children, and the parents of Madeline McCann have campaigned to have such a system installed across Europe.
"The cost of the service is met by advertising boards under the emergency messaging display, which means installation of each sign is free and each post also generates income which can be reinvested in council services.
''The council retains control over the contents of any messages and can veto any advertising it regards to be unsuitable. No planning permission is required."
He added: "Consultation was carried out with elected members, Low Port Primary and the Linlithgow Town Centre management group prior to the signs being erected. ''
editorial@journalandgazette.co.uk
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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