ILLEGAL roadside adverts cluttering the A590 into Barrow are being targeted in a new crackdown, a meeting has heard.

Unauthorised adverts designed to catch the eye of drivers could be removed, disposed of or put in storage if they are not taken away soon, officials warned.

Cumbria County Council, Barrow Borough Council and Highways England are planning action after a “marked increase” in ads without planning permission.

Planning officer Maureen Smith told Barrow council’s planning committee:  “There has been an increasing number of unauthorised signs especially on the approach of the A590.”

She said the legislation over whose responsibility it was was complicated but the three parties were holding talks.

Planning committee chairwoman Cllr Ann Thomson welcomed the move and said some parts of the A590 “looked a mess”.

“We asked the enforcement officer to do this because we have all been concerned about it for a very long time, so it’s very pleasing,” said Cllr Thomson, the Labour councillor for Hindpool.

Barrow mayor and planning committee member Cllr Bill McEwan said the county council, the highways authority, was aware of the problem.

“I hope we can get something moving on this because it is becoming an issue,” said Cllr McEwan, the Labour councillor for Ormsgill.

A report to the committee said adverts had been attached to signs and “highway furniture”. Others involved trailers being parked up and left on county council-controlled land without permission, it said.

The committee report added: “The main purpose is to ensure that the borough’s roads do not remain cluttered which creates a poor initial image for visitors, as well as a potential highway safety issue for road users.”

A joint programme is planned to look at the clearance of illegal signage, it said.

The first phase will target a section of the A590 under the control of the county council.

Barrow council was asked to identify which sections had unauthorised advertisements but declined to discuss details.

A Cumbria County Council spokesman identified the worst stretch as between Barrow and Swarthmoor.

“We will only be able to remove those situated on Cumbria County Council owned land, but it is a partnership approach.”

The spokesman said a process for removing advertising trailers was part of the talks.