All over everywhere like a rash.

An annoying bit of fly-posting that seems very widespread across Brownhills, Walsall and the Black Country has recently come to my attention, and I’m finding it a bit irritating, but at the same time, quite interesting.

I first noticed it on the weekend of 1st-2nd August 2015 in Brownhills. Every empty shop, gateway and bus stop was plastered in posters advertising an event the following weekend (that’s last weekend, 8-9th August) – something called The Walsall Show.

I held off commenting before the event, as I didn’t wish to give the people publicity. But over the last few days, I’ve recorded a few of the places where posters for the event were posted up.

I haven’t searched, these are just ones I’ve noticed on my travels: The Warreners Arms in Brownhills; the closed Blockbuster and Freezer Shop, Brownhills; The Four Crosses, Shelfield (actually pasted over an important legal notice); The Scott Arms in Kings Hill Darlaston.

Anecdotally, they’ve apparently been posted around Wolverhampton, too.

Illuminating – thanks.

My first reaction was of course, to ask myself why Walsall Council had allowed one of their events to be flyposted in this manner? I made enquiries with @WalsallCouncil on twitter, who not unsually these days, ignored the question, despite advertising the event earlier. Mind you, since @WalsallCouncil dedicated a huge amount of time discussing the new Primark on the same feed, perhaps it’s not surprising.

I subsequently found out thanks to the excellent @Walsall_nhoods that the event is not staged by, or connected with Walsall Council in any way. Which begs the question of why their twitter feed was being used to promote it?

Why would Walsall Council advertise a privately operated event?

Walsall Council takes a very stern line on flyposting, as you’d expect – this from their website, apparently updated on 30th July 2015:

Fly posting

Walsall Council is campaigning against illegal fly-posting and the borough is looking better as music promoters and other organisations get the message that the authority will not tolerate unauthorised advertising.

Council workers are removing posters as soon as they go up – thanks to residents and councillors across Walsall working with the authority to notify officers of fly-posting in their area.

Walsall Council is leading the way for other authorities and will prosecute the people responsible for fly posting wherever possible – particularly repeat offenders who think that they can ‘get away with it’.

The initiative is aimed at boosting the borough’s image and helping restore a sense of civic pride, as the unsightly signs are spoiling Walsall’s appearance.

Fly-posting is illegal – whether on lampposts or buildings – and Walsall Council is keen to encourage companies and organisations to publicise their events within the law.

The problem is national but Walsall’s approach is paying dividends as companies realise the council is serious that this blight on our borough must stop.

This page was last updated on 30 July 2015

Way back in 2010, Walsall Council officers and Councillors were very much on the offensive as regards the issue, which I and many others regard as nothing more than promotional littering.

I’d really like to know what the council intends to do about this particular issue, and what action will be taken against those responsible – but we must remember that it may not be the organisers themselves, but maybe a third party agency.

Those posters are everywhere.

I look forward to Walsall Council responding positively.