Plans to site advertising signs beside roads across west Norfolk have been thrown out because the council says it doesn't have the powers to decide them - as objectors say there are enough of them already.

Suffolk-based Marketing Force, which calls itself the "UK’s market leader in sponsorship advertising on or adjacent to the public highway" has applied for planning permission for 11 sites.

They include Redgate Hill, at Hunstanton; the A10 at Watlington, Wimbotsham, Bexwell and Denver; the A149 Queen Elizabeth Way at King's Lynn and the A134 at Tottenhill.

Eastern Daily Press: Redgate Hill, at Hunstanton, already has enough signs says the town councilRedgate Hill, at Hunstanton, already has enough signs says the town council (Image: Google)

But West Norfolk council says it has no powers to decide the applications because there are no provisions in law for advertising signs in similar locations to be given planning permission.

It said there are limited exceptions which do not apply in this case.

Hunstanton Town Council objected to the Redgate Hill plan. It said: "There is already enough road signage along this stretch of road and we are concerned from a public safety perspective it would become an additional road safety distraction when approaching a major road junction which incorporates a roundabout."

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Castle Rising Parish Council said it also "strongly objects" to proposals to site a sign near the Knights Hill roundabout, saying there are already too may signs on the verges of the roundabout.

Three members of the public have objected to proposals to site a sign on the A10 at Bexwell.

Eastern Daily Press: The A10 at Bexwell is one of the locations where new advertising signs have been proposedThe A10 at Bexwell is one of the locations where new advertising signs have been proposed (Image: Google)

One said: "We don't want more distracting advertising boards on our roads, they are dangerous and unsightly, spoiling our countryside."

Another asks: "Do we really need more clutter at the side of the road?"

Marketing Force says in a planning statement it is currently working with 120 local authorities on "highly successful sponsorship advertising initiatives".

They include signs for 90 roundabouts across Norfolk, in partnership with the county council.

The county's highways department says the signs would have "no significant detrimental impact upon highway safety".