ORGANISERS of a charity art show were ordered to take down posters advertising the event because they may cause 'visual pollution'.

For 45 years the Mersea Island Art Show has been promoted by flyers at specific locations around the island.

However, council zone wardens are now enforcing a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for charity event posters.

Organisers fear it could spell doom for the future of the event.

Pat Richardson, a member of the group, said: “It may result in insufficient income for the community art group to survive and will cause a serious loss of income for the Mersea Museum, which is a registered charity.

“We have always behaved in a responsible manner by putting our posters up ten days prior to the event and removing all of them the day after the event.

“We only put them up outside people’s houses and not on highways.

“You can have posters for charity events but you need planning permission which costs £200.

“The zone wardens say if we don’t take them down, then they will, and I think that’s going too far.”

The paper posters come in A4, A3 and A2 sizes.

The posters, which show black text on a yellow background, are attached to boards which are then pinned to fences or posts.

Pat said: “The zone wardens say they cause visual pollution and potential danger.

“I understand the fact people don’t want posters attached to lamp posts for years, but we have never done that.”

The show is held twice a year and takes place this weekend at the Mersea Museum.

A spokesperson for Colchester Council said The Town & Country Planning Act 1990 restricts flyposting and the display of adverts and other promotional materials without permission on buildings, posts, poles, litter bins and elsewhere in public.

They said: “While there are some exemptions that permit the display of certain materials in some locations with the permission of the landowner, most local authorities operate a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on fly-posting – Colchester Council included.

“In addition, the Highways Act 1980 makes provision for the highway authority to remove posters on the highway.

“We encourage community groups who wish to promote an event to contact the Visitor Information Centre, who will publicise it in the ‘What’s On’ section of its website.”

The next art show will be held this Friday to Sunday at the Mersea Museum in the High Street.

The event will be held from 10am until 5pm each day and admission is free.