Waiting for the courts to decide on billboards

ROADISDE billboards may have been made illegal last summer, with a government deadline for enforcement passing in November, but many advertising hoardings still remain in place, in spite of the new law.

Green Party deputy George Perdikis said yesterday that many companies disputed the law; the government had now taken the matter to court and was waiting a final ruling.
“The fact is that the law was passed and it specifically states that illegal billboards must be taken down, but advertising companies have refused to do so,” said Perdikis.

“Not removing the billboards is illegal, as only two advertising companies have court orders protecting them from the law,” said Perdikis.

The two advertising companies that have court orders preventing state officials from moving in to tear them down are Adboard and Mega Adboard.

Director of Mega Adboard Elias Poundoukides yesterday told the Cyprus Mail they were waiting for the Supreme Court and the Attorney-general to reach a decision on whether or not they would have to remove their billboards.

“We have court orders, but if the court decides that we are in breach of the law, our court orders will be revoked and we will remove our billboards,” said Pountoukides.

The new law restricts the size of billboards and stipulates that all billboards that are less than 40 metres away from the edge of the highway and three metres from the kerb on streets be removed.

Billboards must also be three kilometres apart on the highway. It is estimated that 75 per cent of all billboards lining the Nicosia to Larnaca highway will have to be taken down.
Perdikis yesterday told the Cyprus Mail he was extremely disappointed in the government’s stance on the matter of the billboards.

“They are illegal, the law says so, yet the government have decided to leave the outcome to the courts,” said Perdikis.