Election poster ban being decided upon by Highland Council
Election posters look set to be banned from lamp-posts and public buildings across the Highlands, if councillors approve the move later today.
A full meeting of Highland Council will today decide whether to proceed with the proposal, which would bring it in line with the majority of councils in Scotland – where only five of the 32 local authorities currently permit it.
If approved, the ban will take effect after the upcoming ward by-election for Tain and Easter Ross later this month. A report before the committee said the ban would apply to "all future elections and referenda" and will "no longer permit the fixing of campaign materials on property owned, adopted or maintained by the council, excluding tenanted homes".
The report elaborates that the move is being done in part to make streets less "unsightly" for tourists and also save staff resources when parties and candidates complain over positioning or damage to posters.
It adds: "At the most recent Highland Council Election in 2022, the Election Team dealt with 10 individual complaints relating to campaign posters. Whilst this number may not seem excessive on first consideration it is important to recognise that each issue might result in lengthy and complex discussions with those involved to achieve a resolution.
"This burden increases the workload for the election team and colleagues at a time when they are operating under extreme pressure in preparing for the upcoming election."
The report continued: "The revised policy would also remove the need for officers to be involved in pursuing the removal of posters following the electoral event allowing those officers to be available for other duties."
Elsewhere, it added: "The Highlands is a major tourist attraction bringing tourists from around the world. The campaign signs may be seen by some as unsightly and a poster free environment may portray tidier, environmentally friendly communities.
"Alternative communication tools instead of printed campaign materials in public places are likely to offer better value and any existing posters held in stock by political parties or produced by independent candidates could be used for display in private premises."
The ban would not apply to posters erected on trunk roads, which are not maintained by Highland Council. Private land would also be unaffected.
