A PARLIAMENTARY hopeful fears his election dreams could be left in tatters on the roadside. Plaid Cymru election posters placed along main roads throughout Brecon and Radnorshire have been torn down by Powys County Council that insists the signs are a danger to road safety.
The distinctive green placards are now gathering dust in a council depot in Boughrood, between Brecon and Builth Wells, while the May 5 polling date draws ever closer.
Plaid's Brecon and Radnorshire candidate Mabon ap Gwynfor says he is now considering legal action against the council as well as the Welsh Assembly and the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency, which is responsible for main roads. The party's posters were taken down by council workmen on April 22 as they were placed alongside the public highway. Mabon was later contacted by an Assembly official and told his posters illegal. A complaint from a member of the public is believed to have sparked the road side clear up and seen around 20 posters pulled down from alongside the A470 and the A40. But Mabon insists two different laws allow election posters to be displayed on public highways. He also added that the posters were helping to raise awareness of the election. "All parties are concerned about low turnout at the election, but how can you expect a large turnout if your not able to advertise your campaign?" asked Mabon who says he is now trying to contact Powys in a bid to retrieve his posters. And Mabon says he was further angered when an Assembly official told him if he had complaints about other candidate's posters he should report them and provide evidence. "I'm trying to run an election campaign I haven't got time to stop and take photos of other candidates posters, not that I would want to as the posters are in the public interest."
Powys said any posters placed in verges could be a potential road safety hazard and unauthorised posters would be removed.