Published: 16/06/2009 00:00 - Updated: 19/06/2009 10:20

Supermarket rapped over signs

Supermarket giants Sainsbury’s has been fined for illegally placing directional signs to its new store in Central Milton Keynes.

Sainsbury’s pleaded guilty to eight counts of illegal advertising under section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990,with a further 104 offences being taken into consideration.



Officers from the safer communities unit took action after discovering that over a hundred yellow and black signs had been put up to guide people to the new superstore in Witan Gate, Central Milton Keynes, when it opened in October 2008.

In a letter to Milton Keynes Council, a spokes person for Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd admitted that it had engaged the services of a company to put up the signs knowing no permission had been granted.

They were oredered to pay a total of £8,000 at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court on Friday including £400 costs to Milton Keynes Council.

Safer communities manager Pete Roberts said: “This is the single largest case of illegal advertising that Milton Keynes has had to deal with.

“Illegal directional signs and A-boards are seen as a cheap form of advertising for businesses attempting to get a competitive advantage and doing so on this scale shows scant regard for local residents and the local authority.”