POSTERS promoting a charity duck race were removed from a roadside without organisers receiving an explanation.
Crickhowell Rotary Club placed the posters on verges alongside the main Brecon to Abergavenny A40 trunk road either side of Crickhowell to promote the event which takes place on July 7.
But within days of the posters, publicising the rubber duck race and community fete at Bullpit Meadow, being erected officials from the Welsh Government’s North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency had them removed.
Rotary club member Dr Frank Williams, of Llangattock, said: “We put the posters up on Friday, May 25 as we were selling tickets that Saturday.
“I discovered they had gone on Friday, June 1. A farmer friend of mine who comes into Crickhowell regularly said he was pretty sure they were there on the Wednesday morning (May 30) but they had gone the following morning.
“When I noticed they had gone I contacted Powys council and then on Thursday morning (June 7) I had a message to say they were in the Brecon depot.
“I don’t know why they had taken them, I wasn’t told why.”
Dr Williams said he was surprised the posters had been removed as the club has used the same areas, on the verge in front of the Manor Hotel on the town’s western approach and on a verge at the eastern entrance, in previous years.
He also said he was disappointed nobody had contacted the club or asked them to remove the posters themselves.
“In the past Powys highways have told organisers of events to take posters down themselves. It’s not difficult to get hold of us as we’ve got a website and our name is on the posters.
“I’m sure someone could have let us know. One of our Rotary Club members is due to pick them up and he might find out what’s gone on as we’ve had no explanation from them at all.
“I had a message from a Julie Davies from the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency to say they were at the Brecon depot and that’s all the information I had from them.”
Though the posters had been taken to the council’s depot the authority had been working as contractors for the trunk road agency.
The duck race, which has been organised by the Rotary Club for more than 10 years, is one of its major fundraising events, said Dr Williams.
“It’s probably one of our biggest money raisers as it’s not easy to raise money in our area compared to some other areas. Probably about four local organisations have benefited over the past 12 months and international charities as well.”
A spokeswoman for the Welsh Government said: “We try to adopt a common sense approach to the section of the Highways Act that covers unauthorised signs. Advertisements will not be permitted within the trunk road highway boundary, but may be allowed on land adjacent to the trunk road and subject to planning permission.”