AN ADVERTISING board bearing Hounslow Borough Council publicity material has been standing without planning permission for three years, according to a Chiswick business.

The free standing unit, owned by JC Decaux, has been outside Capital Property estate agents, in Chiswick High Road for over eight years. Planning permission was granted in 1996 and then expired in 2001, but it has yet to be renewed.

George Baigey, director of Capital Property, has been campaigning against the placement of the board since it was first erected. He said: "Initially they had planning permission but we were never informed about the prospect of the board. If you put up an extension on your house your neighbours are informed. It was all done very quietly.

"When we spoke to the Council they said there was nothing we could do. We were never given a chance to object."

One of the original adverts on the board was a 3D Persil washing tablet, as featured in the Times back in 1999. On this occasion Mr Baigey's complaints were listened to and the advert was removed, although the board remained. It now boasts a Hounslow Council poster for the Stupid Waste' litter campaign.

But Mr Baigey believes it is the 3ft by 7ft unit itself that is the stupid waste, as it is blocking off part of his shop front from passing trade. He added: "We have had enough of it outside our property. If I look out of my window, all I see is this board in front. It's not fair to pay full rates when a quarter of our shop is blocked. It's a nuisance. Am I not right to ask them to move it?"

Mr Baigey and his staff have contacted the Council, JC Decaux and local MP Ann Keen in the hope that the board might be removed.

However, as often happens in cases of expired permission, the advert board is possibly now under deemed consent. This means JC Decaux are still legally allowed to keep the board up, unless a removal condition was placed in the original planning permission.

The Council would therefore have the responsibility for applying for the board's removal and JC Decaux are within their rights to wait for them to do this. Such action could be costly and is only likely to go ahead if the board is causing substantial harm to the neighbouring amenities.

A council spokesperson said: "We are aware of it. We will deal with it in due course as soon as we are able. There are so many enforcement issues going on and we have to prioritise those which are urgent. It is not the size of a lot if the adverts that can cause accidents."

But Mr Baigey was not satisfied: "The council claim that they are short staffed but maybe one arm of the council is not happy to remove it because they will lose revenue."

JC Decaux declined to comment on the matter.