Iverson Tyres cost council thousands with illicit advertising

A local tyre company has been ordered to stop fly-posting or its directors may face jail after Ealing Council took them to court for the second time in less than a year.

Brentford County Court imposed an injunction on Iverson Tyres, which has three stores in the area, banning the company from fly-posting and ordering it to pay costs of £2,813. If they break the injunction the directors risk being jailed or fined for being in contempt of court. Acton Magistrates fined Iverson £2,000 plus costs in May 2005 after the council took action against the company for fly-posting.

The Council claimed that Iverson, which is based in Hampstead but has outlets in Hanwell and Chiswick, had fly posted on traffic lights and other street furniture and that removal had cost taxpayers thousands of pounds each year.

Cllr John Delaney, Cabinet Member for streets and environment, said: "Fly-posting is an illegal activity which is visually ugly and can contribute to traffic accidents by distracting car drivers. This is the best result that the council has secured against a company for fly-posting in the borough and possibly one of the best for London councils."

Iverson Tyres has been fly-posting across the borough for several years. Ealing Council first took action against the company in 2001 and although it complied initially they began to re-offend, resulting in this year's actions.

The council is considering commencing civil proceedings against Iverson to recover the costs of removal of their posters in the last year.

September 28, 2005