High Court rules on Addi Lee bin advertising.

Adverts on cigarette bins outside pubs and other premises promoting minicabs may have to be removed following a court ruling.

Westminster Council fought off an appeal by Addison Lee against a magistrates court ruling, during which the company said they should be allowed to leave their branded bins on buildings and streets despite not applying for permission.


The High Court ruled that the adverts did not relate to a service being provided from the premises, and therefore advertisement consent should have been obtained before posting them.


Councillor Robert Davis, deputy leader of the council and head of the built environment, said: "We are of course pleased with the High Court's decision.


"Unfortunately, Addison Lee and Addbins put up their cigarette bins without the relevant permission.


"We advised them as far back as 2008 that they were in the wrong but they refused to take the bins down. That is why we took this action through the courts.


"Given the High Court's decision, we will now look at grounds for enforcement action on the remainder of their bins.


"We will always be fair and flexible as far as possible when considering applications for advertising consent, but the merits of the advertising or the purpose of the bins is irrelevant."


The initial hearing related to the unauthorised display of 21 adverts on cigarette bins, at seven sites, all but one of which are within conservation areas.


Anyone wanting to put up one of these bins should first check whether they need consent for any adverts on it.


Source: Westminster Chronicle, posted by Emma Heseltine