As a member of Oakdale Infants PTFA, I am deeply concerned about the recent decision by the Redbridge Planning Enforcement department to ban the use of estate agent boards to promote our school fete. This decision has resulted in a loss of £1000 in funds that are crucial for supporting our school's activities and resources. We have been challenging this decision with Redbridge council and have reached out to numerous local counsellors, we are yet to receive a satisfactory reason. The only reason given is:

"We have received complaints regarding the many boards that have recently appeared in the Aldersbrook Estate and Wanstead Village conservation area, advertising local events on estate agent boards.

and

Having seen the boards concerned, the case officer observed the name of the estate agent on the board above the event being promoted.  As the estate agent are a commercial endeavour this is a breach of Class 3(D) and therefore requires planning permission."

This is not a satisfactory reason for this ban. Firstly, none of our estate boards were due to be be put up in this conservation area and Planning Enforcement were told this last week. Secondly, other events that have been allowed to be advertised on estate boards right up to the 17th June  and all of the boards have the name of the estate agent above the event being promoted. The very nature of promotion is that the name of the sponsor is always on the banner/ advert/ sign etc and it is practised by all so this response does not have validity.  Planning Enforcement have also been furnished with pictures that show this.

We want to know why our particular event is being penalised when Churchfields fete, Snaresbrook fete and Aldersbrook jumble trail have been allowed to go ahead with various estate agents including Stow Brothers and our event in the same area is being stopped from being advertised. We also want to know why Planning Enforcement will not engage with us even to acknowledge our enquiries and can only assume that Redbridge Council encourage a policy of non engagement with residents.

We are left struggling to understand why such an impactful decision was made without proper justification. We urge you to sign this petition and help us reverse this decision so we can continue to support our school and community effectively.