City Hall has been accused of ‘heavy handedness’ by Independent Cllr Terry O’Flaherty for the way it issues fines to small business that leave out promotional signs in public areas.
Cllr O’Flaherty said City Hall cannot allow signs to be placed or erected in public places without planning permission, but that in these “harsh economic times, some degree of leniency should be applied”.
She has now tabled a notice of motion calling on the Galway City Council to review the enforcement procedures with regard to the display of signs.
Her call came about after she was contacted by a man running a small business who was issued with a €150 fine for displaying signs in a public area to promote a January sale.
“The businessman in question was not aware that this was in contravention of the litter pollution act,” said Cllr O’Flaherty. “In the past council employees used to remove the signs and bring them to their yard. This I feel is a much fairer system rather than the imposition of a fine.”
