A WORCESTER parish council is looking to take steps to prevent advertising vans parking around the area.

During a recent meeting of St Peter’s Parish Council a member of the public raised the issue of cars parking around the area “advertising things”.

The vans have been spotted parked in places such as Norton Road, off St Peter’s Drive, next to the Norton roundabout on Broomhall Way, and next to the Ketch roundabout.

Councillor Ross McFarlane, chairman of the parish council, said Worcester City Council is aware of the issue.

He said: “The vehicles can be there one minute and not the next.

“There are certain areas within the parish where we can take some physical steps to prevent them being able to park in certain areas.”

A spokesman for Worcester City Council said it had been made aware of the problem and that the issue of unauthorised adverts being displayed in the city is being investigated.

He said: “If a vehicle is being primarily used to display advertising, then it would need advertisement consent and the permission of the landowner that the vehicle was parked on.

“Councils have the powers to remove unauthorised advertisements and charge the owners of the advertisement for the removal.

“We have been made aware of some instances of these unauthorised adverts being displayed in parts of the city and they are currently being investigated.”

During the meeting, Councillor Roger Knight, who represents St Peter’s on Worcester City Council, said he had also spoken to police about the issue.

He said: “The police have assured me that if each occasion is reported to them, the police will take action.”

But a spokesman for West Mercia Police said that the issue is only a police matter if the vehicles cause an obstruction on the highway.