LED advertising boards are "blights" in Roehampton's landscape, say campaigners

Amanda Benzecry from Roehampton, is a spokeswoman for the Campaign Against Rosslyn Park FC Advertising (CARPA) a group started after the large, television like screens appeared in Upper Richmond Road.

The screens were installed after receiving planning permission.

She said: "CARPA has now spoken to a great many local residents and to them the massive screens have come as a complete surprise.

"How this very public environmental intrusion could happen with so little apparent local awareness we believe beggars belief.

"Rosslyn Park and Wandsworth Council state that the screens had overwhelming public support during planning. "We contend that there was inadequate consultation with the public given the impact of the installations and that the apparent support came from Rosslyn Park members who stand to gain from the revenue generated by the advertising."

Mrs Benzecry said the screens are "completely out of keeping with the surroundings", and damage could extend beyond the area around Rosslyn Park, near Barnes Common.

At planning stage, the Putney Society objected, calling it "visually intrusive".

Shaun Justice, managing director of Rosslyn Park, said: "We are incredibly proud of the thorough consultation and planning process that we presented to council.

"We left no stone unturned and the process was lengthy, professional and costly.

"The money generated from the digital screens has allowed the club to take on debt to immediately install a fantastic new artificial pitch and road netting system.

"The artificial pitch means that our hours of usage on the site has gone through the roof, allowing us to get more children and adults active and playing sport.

"Externally we are renting the facilities to universities, schools, clubs and charities who are all enjoying playing on such a superb facility in an area deprived of fit-for-use outdoor pitches especially in the winter months."

Jeremy Ambache, Labour councillor for Putney Heath and Roehampton said: "I spoke at the planning committee against these LED advertising bright lights and voted against giving planning permission for this development. "I consider that these advertising screens would become eye-sores and a dangerous distraction for motorists. I also think they may effect the animal life of the adjacent Putney common area.

"Unfortunately the planning committee voted to give planning permission."

Mrs Benzecry, who lives and works in Roehampton, said she hopes the campaign will shame advertisers into boycotting the screens, and get a review of the original planning process.

A spokesman from Wandsworth Council said: "The club applied for and obtained planning permission in the normal way following the statutory consultation which generated hundreds of responses from local residents, from those who supported the scheme and those who objected to it."

The petition can be viewed at www.takedowntheads.com.