Council: Lib Dem signs are ‘a distraction’
By Stephen Slominski
Conservative controlled-Hampshire County Council has told Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhns office to move some of his campaign posters from the roadside.
The order follows a complaint from a member of the public.
Up to ten of the large fluorescent-orange billboards proclaiming ‘Liberal Democrats Winning Here’ had been erected near the busy Bursledon roundabout in Eastleigh.
A week earlier, rival Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings had unveiled a prominent 15 by 20 feet election hoarding declaring herself as ‘The Local Choice’ 500 feet from this site.
Richard Bastow, highways manager for Hampshire County Council told politics.co.uk: “I have visited the site in person and agree that the glare from the posters in sunlight was a potential distraction to drivers.
“I suggested that a number of the signs should be adjusted and repositioned. I did not ask for any signs to be removed.”
Mr Bastow added he believed the complaint was genuine.
Chris Huhne’s spokesman denied any knowledge of the council’s intervention and said: “We make posters available to supporters; it’s up to them how they display them.”
The spokesperson added: “We have had a large number of our signs systematically uprooted all over the constituency.
“They are being put into bins, so we think it’s not just vandals and we have reported the matter to the police.”
