Hundreds of advertisements for a Pleasureland festival event are set to be removed by Sefton Council after they were erected around town on street furnishing without permission.
Councillor John Pugh has also criticised the adverts, suggesting that a number posted on the junction of Eastbank Street and Lord Street pose a danger to pedestrians.
Fly-posting, the promotion of events with posters, stickers or bills that are put up without the permission of the property owner, is a criminal offence.
A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: “We would like to remind all businesses that advertising erected on highway furnishings is not allowed.
“This includes pedestrian crossings, guard rails and lighting columns.
“We can confirm that signage which has appeared across Southport Town Centre relating to a privately run pyrotechnics event will be removed in the coming days and disposed of appropriately.”
Lib Dem councillor for Dukes Ward John Pugh has expressed concern at the placing of the advertising placards at the junction of Lord Street and Eastbank Street.
Councillor Pugh told OTS News: “This is an accident waiting to happen. I am all for fun but there could be horribly ironic twist here as the adverts obscure pedestrians’ view of on-coming traffic, distract motorists and partially hide pedestrians from their view. It could really be ‘the day of the dead’.
“All the stats I have seen show that the most likely cause of accidents in Southport is pedestrians often distracted stepping into traffic in the town centre.
“A person of average height does not have a proper view of the traffic stream with these placards in place. I would urge whoever is responsible to remove them and place them somewhere else rather than have a serious accident or fatality resulting from their poor choice.”
OTS News has contacted Pleasureland for comment.