Bristol campaigners welcome changes to digital advertising screens

Adblock Bristol have raised concerns about billboards across the city

Campaigners have welcomed plans to strengthen rules around applications for digital advertising billboards.

The changes, agreed by Bristol City Council, will make it harder for companies to secure planning permission on a range of adverts across the city.

Campaign group Adblock Bristol is pleased with the decision, saying that digital billboards can distract drivers and use a vast amount of electricity.

The changes could come into effect from spring 2025.

They were approved under the council's draft Local Plan, a major housing blueprint, at a full council meeting on 31 October, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

As a result of the decision, applicants will now have to meet a series of tests to ensure that adverts do not have a negative impact on the area.

The council has recently refused permission for several digital screens, including the board behind Cabot Circus, which was installed in June and vandalised in July.

However, some of these decisions were overturned after advertising companies appealed to government planning inspectors.

An advertising screen near Cabot Circus was vandalised soon after it was installed

Mayor Marvin Rees said: "The policy for advertising was added to the Local Plan in response to comments and suggestions we received during the consultation.

"It will strengthen our approach to managing the impacts of new advertisements."

An Adblock Bristol spokesman said he hoped the changes would "strengthen the hand of the council".

"We particularly welcome the policy that will guard against the disproportionate placement of intrusive advertising screens in less wealthy areas of the city.

"Adblock looks forward to the time when all corporate advertising is banned in public places in Bristol, for safer streets, darker skies and a culture focused not on material consumption but on community connection, a thriving local economy and sustainability," he added.