Campaigners call for M32 advert screens to be removed before ‘a driver is killed’

Hundreds of residents in Bristol are calling for two large advertising screens overlooking the M32 to be removed.

A petition signed by more than 1,600 people was presented to a city council meeting yesterday.

People living close to the screens say they are causing light pollution and disturbing wildlife.

There are also concerns they could distract drivers.

A campaign group called Adblock Bristol is representing the residents.

Veronica Wignall, from the group, said: “One man contacted us and said that the billboards are affecting his life, he’s not able to sleep at night and it is affecting his mental health.

“It is not just people the wildlife are seriously affected to by the light pollution it causes.”

People are also unhappy that the screens are advertising for national brands - something they say goes against promoting local businesses.

And Ms Wignall said the flashing lights could lead to a serious crash on the motorway.

She said: “These boards are able to show many different adverts in a very short space of time and are meant to be looked at and due to that they flash a lot, this can be very distracting to drivers

“You can’t expect people to wait until a driver is killed or something else happens.”

It has been five years since the billboards received their planning consent from Bristol City Council.

This means that the council can now serve a discontinuance notice, however in order for this to happen Adblock Bristol says it has to show that they they are having a detrimental impact.

The group now awaits a decision by the council, which could get the screens removed as early as January.