Campaign against Rosslyn Park screens take fight to the advertisers

December 8: LED advertising boards are "blights" in Roehampton's landscape, say campaigners

The Campaign Against Rosslyn Park FC Advertising (CARPA) group contends that television-style advertising screens in the sports ground, on the border of Barnes and Roehampton, are "shocking" and "detrimental".

In recent weeks, group members started writing directly to companies urging them not to advertise on the boards, with TSB and the Co-Operative Food have since said they will not use the sites.

A spokesman for TSB said: "After being contacted by CARPA, a group of local residents in the area, we decided to suspend advertising on these boards until the matter is resolved.

"We do not have a position on the dispute, but as Britain’s local bank we listen carefully to the concerns of local residents, and hope a suitable agreement is reached between residents and local authorities."

A spokesman for the Co-op said: "I can confirm that we have no plans in place to use the advertising screens beyond our current campaign, which concludes at the end of January."

CARPA formed shortly after the screens appeared in November 2015, although planning permission had been granted in October 2014.

A spokesman for the club's management board said: "The revenue generated from the screens has allowed a non-profit-making community sports club to install an artificial 4G Pitch and make other much needed facility improvements.

"This is not a profit-making scheme, it is a local Wandsworth club self funding much needed and beneficial sport facility improvements."

The spokesman said the pitch was available to 900 children and 500 adult members through the winter months and is available for rent to clubs, universities, and schools.

JCDecaux had no comment to add.

The petition has reached more than 370 signatures and can be viewed at takedowntheads.com.