Campaign group reveals locations for more planned advertised screens in Bristol

A campaign group has issued a map showing the locations for 86 planned digital advertising screens around Bristol.

Adblock Bristol want a billboard-free Bristol, claiming that the advertisements change the face of the city.

The new planned digital ads have been submitted by out-of-home advertising company Clear Channel which has more than 33,000 outdoor screens across the UK.

Clear Channel has applied for the electronic billboards in an attempt to remove all paper adverts, however Adblock Bristol has said that while they may bring some environmental and social benefits to the city, the group is working for profit, not the community.

Adblock Bristol has released its response to the applications, claiming that the new digital development plans will not only harm the wellbeing of people living nearby, but also distract road users.

In previous statements, the group has stated that the move to create more billboards is not in line with Bristol’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

While the plans have been open for public consultation, Adblock has encouraged people to object, as the council can reject applications based on the harm to road safety or amenity.

The adfree group has released a map showing the 86 locations of the new billboards for the bus shelter screens, allowing residents to find developments close to them.

Last month, more than 400 Bristol residents objected to a new digital screen on Gloucester Road, in addition to a petition that gained 2,300 signatures to remove two billboards above the M32.

Since its creation in 2017, Adblock Bristol has claimed to have stopped 23 digital billboards.

Adblock Bristol’s latest objection states: “Bristol doesn’t want more bright, intrusive, energy-hungry digital screens.

“Each digital advertising screen of this size uses a colossal amount of electricity to power; as much as four households per year on average.

“As we face the interacting challenges of an energy crisis, the rising cost of living, and climate change, Clear Channel’s application…is completely out of touch with Bristol’s social and environmental goals.”

Despite some of the objection dates passing for the Clear Channel plans, the majority of the 86 billboards are still open for public opposition.

For more information on the plans and to object, visit Adblock’s website.