PEOPLE caught sticking up illegal posters in North Ayrshire will face a hefty fine under new rules.

A new Fly-Posting Policy – set to be approved at Cabinet this week – will confirm a crackdown on the practice.

The Environmental Enforcement Team – who were set up in April 2016 – have been given the responsibility of making a difference and trying to reduce the problem across the area.

The Policy outlines how the team will try and educate people about the dangers of fly-posting and provide advice, solutions and alternative ways to advertise events or business.

They will also look to work actively with community groups to support them and find ways they can advertise their events in a safe and legal way.

The team will also look to sanction businesses and individuals caught carrying out the illegal practice. This can be done by issuing written cautions, making referrals to the Anti-Social Behaviour Team, serving fixed penalty notices and making referrals to the Procurator Fiscal.

A Council spokesperson said: “We’re delighted that we are taking this approach.

“A big part of the Policy is to educate. We don’t want to spoil people’s fun and we recognise how important it is for community groups when it comes to advertising events. There will be times they put up posters which are unsightly and, if put on bridges and other locations, could potentially be dangerous.

“We recognise that this isn’t malicious and that’s where we will look to assist and educate and support them. We want to work with them and would urge them to come to us for assistance before advertising events.

“But there are individuals and businesses that have a disregard for communities by regularly putting up posters in places they simply shouldn’t.

“Fly posting can distract drivers and having posters/materials on bridges and structures could cause a serious accident if they came loose and impact on driver visibility. They can also be extremely unsightly and have a negative impact on communities.

“We simply want to protect and enhance the local environment for the enjoyment of residents, visitors and business.”

The Enforcement Team have been working tirelessly to reduce the impact of fly-tipping, dog fouling and littering across the region and have issued in excess of 670 fixed penalty notices since their introduction.

The spokesperson added: “The number of fixed penalty notices that have been handed out to offenders has soared. They are a presence within communities and people recognise that they mean business and are determined to keep North Ayrshire tidy.

“We are delighted they will now be working on getting rid of illegal posters dotted across North Ayrshire.”

Fly-posting is any printed material and associated remains informally or illegally fixed to any structure. It excludes approved and managed advertising hoardings and fly-posting sites, and other valid, legally placed signs and notices. It includes any size of material from small stickers up to large posters.