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The United Kingdom Independence Party was left embarrassed today after party posters were put on empty phone boxes built without planning permission.
Seven eight-feet high adverts to promote UKIP's European election campaign are dotted across the City in shell kiosks, which could now be removed.
Telecomms firm Infolines Public Network were refused planning permission for the three-sided boxes. But they went ahead and instructed engineers to erect and install the boxes at locations including Moorgate and London Wall.
City of London Corporation planning officers say the boxes, the majority of which do not contain any phones, are a blight and in “clear breach” of policy.
A planning report states: “The kiosks are of poor design quality, are substantial in size, leading to obstruction of the pavements and feature adverts not normally permitted in the City streets”.
The applications were rejected on grounds of public safety, impact on a conservation area and the setting of listed buildings.
Now UKIP is caught up in the row after paying to have its purple and yellow posters reading “Say no to paying the EU £40 million a day. Vote UKIP.” put on the boxes.
They are contrary to City of London policy because the posters contain “political material” which is against local planning regulations.
A City of London Corporation spokeswoman said attempts to get Infolines to remove the boxes have failed and the firm claimed to benefit from “deemed consent”, implied because the council did not issue its refusals within 56 days.
The spokeswoman said: “It is proposed to issue and serve planning notices shortly including by the prominent display of Site Notices on the unauthorised kiosks in the City.
“We takes breaches of planning control very seriously and are moving swiftly to ensure appropriate enforcement action as soon as possible.”
Infolines is the third largest payphone operator in the UK with more than 500 kiosks installed across the country.
In London the firm mainly operates in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Camden.
Previously, Infolines has been fined by telecomms watchdog Ofcom over discrepancies with its insurance policies.
Ken Irvine, UKIP's European Campaign Director, said: “We received a statement from the Corporation of London that alleged that seven of the kiosks were refused planning permission and are in breach of planning legislation.
“We contacted Infolines immediately. They assured us that they had complied with the relevant planning process”.
Infolines could not be reached for comment last night.
Reader views (9)
Firstly, I think the new kiosks are great and thankyou Infolines for bringing them to London!
Planning permission for telephone boxes must be given or refused within a 30 to 50 day period, City of London missed that deadline,so TOUGH! Furthermore,they are great for people in wheelchairs. Where City of London mention that the kiosks take up the pavement, NONSENSE! they have been placed only on very spacious parts of the high street.
Its just City of London being angry about UKIP being advertised, all parties should have a right to advertise.
- Nickmehr, London
I can assure you that UKIP London Region is not the slightest bit 'embarrassed' about our adverts on the new wheelchair friendly phone boxes in London. We rented the sites in good faith from a reputable advertising company and we are assured that the relevant planning law was fully complied with by the company responsible. Our adverts look fantastic and I am told will be seen by up to 2 million people per day. Perhaps the only embarrassment appropriate should be from the other political parties who did not get to these great sites before we did. But then what do they actually have to say about the EU? Nothing much it seems.
Regards,
Gerard Batten MEP
UKIP London
- Gerard Batten Mep, London
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CASE OF THE PLANNERS TRYING TO COVER THEIR MISTAKESE MUST BE SOME SUBSTANCE IN THE CLAIM BY THE PEOPLE THAT INSTALLED THEM. i THINK THEY LOOK GREAT. i THINK SOME POLITICAL GAIN IS SOUGHT HERE
- Philip Pearson, London
UKIP is not feeling embarrassed. Embarrassed is what the thieving MPs are feeling...
- Rusty, Surrey
I travel to the city regularly from Devon & have seen some of the phoneboxes and think that they look great - if only the phoneboxes in my area were as nice as these! Yet again London seem to get the best things first.
Why would UKIP be embarrased - not only have they got some great looking adverts in Central London but also some free advertising in the Evening Standard - great PR if you ask me
- Alex James, Exeter Devon
I too would be interested to know which ' local planning legislation' these posters go against? Perhaps the City of London Corporation would care to expand on this 'legislation'? Or maybe someone just doesn't like seeing big colourful UKIP posters all over London...I wonder who could possibly be upset by it?
As a resident in London I am more concerned about the pletherer of prostitute cards that adorn phone boxes across London than I am about the UKIP posters. When will the authorities move 'swiftly with appropriate enforcement action' against that?
Personally speaking, looking at the photo, I think the new phone boxes look OK. Certainly look cleaner than the horrible old phone boxes I see every day in London. If they are wheelchair friendly, why on earth would any local authority NOT want to provide the service? Especially as it doesn't cost them or the tax payer any money.
- Roger Brett, Westminster, London
I have seen these new phone kiosks in The City and they look great! Much better than the old telephone kiosks because they have no door and can easily fit a wheelchair. As a female I feel safer using these than the old ones that are enclosed and smell of urine. Well done let's have some more of them please!
- Carmel Richards, City of London, UK
How can the material be against planning. None is required during an election campaign, no matter what the City may say.
This is just another cheap political stunt aimed at the party that is well ahead of most parties in the EU Election Polls.
- Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon, England
Certain parts of London are littered by phone boxes, none of which work but are a good revenue raiser as they feature adverts in positions that would not normally get planning permission. They are an eyesore, are filthy inside and obstruct the highway.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England
