News / urban planning
27 ‘intrusive’ advertising screens firmly refused by Bristol Council
Bristol Council have refused permission for 27 double-sided pavement BT advertising units.
Proposals for the 27 units received 750 objections in total from local people.
Planning officers refused the units on the grounds that they would add street clutter, cause accessibility issues, and harm road safety by distracting drivers.
is needed now More than ever
The BT Street Hub units are 1.25 metres wide by 3 metres tall, with a digital advertising display on each side that can show up to six brightly lit adverts per minute.
BT advertising hubs have previously been vandalised – photo: Bristol AdBlock
Adblock Bristol, a local campaign group that mobilised objections to the units, says the win shows that corporate advertising is not welcome in Bristol.
Stephanie Cartledge, campaign coordinator for Adblock Bristol, said: “These ad screens are unnecessary, inefficient and unwanted by locals, and I think this is proven by the number of people in Bristol who have taken action to keep more excessive advertising off our streets. Public spaces in Bristol should not be subjected to ongoing commercialisation, especially when it significantly impacts our wellbeing.”
Concerns over the advertising units include the content of the adverts shown, which contain unhealthy advertising or gambling ads.
The units also have high energy consumption. For example, advertising screens at bus shelters use the same electricity as three average UK homes.
BT claims that its units are powered by “100 per cent renewable carbon-free energy”. However, electricity for the screens would be drawn from the National Grid, which contains energy from fossil fuels.
?We’ve been transforming ad space into art space at @Upfest. At our workshop people got together to create art and messages about caring for nature and each other – and then covered over ad spaces?#artnotads https://t.co/qO5zp0ZPsS pic.twitter.com/rF0WwblLnW
— Adblock Bristol (@AdblockBristol) May 21, 2024
Adblock Bristol campaigners say that Bristol is “better without billboards” and are calling for national change to prevent further spread.
Main photo: AdBlock Bristol
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