{
"type": "rich",
"version": "1.0",
"provider_name": "Action Network",
"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
"html": "",
"author_name": "Adfree Cities",
"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/national-adfree-cities-mailing-list",
"title": "Protect our planning system",
"thumbnail_url": "https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/454/953/normal/ActionNetwork_August2026.png",
"description": "Together, we've stopped hundreds of new ad screens being installed all across the UK, keeping our streets ad-free. But sadly this could all be about to change. The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 changes the way planning applications for new advertisements are decided. Unless we act now, these decisions might in the future be made only by council planning officers instead of elected councillors. This means less democratic oversight and less opportunity for local people to raise objections. We're already seeing too many digital ad screens appearing on our streets, bombarding us with big brand adverts for things we often don't really need. Without action, this trend will only accelerate and more of our public spaces will be sold off to corporate advertisers. What can we do? We need as many of you as possible to write to your local councillors and ask that planning applications for outdoor advertisements, especially digital screens, are given full consideration by councillors on planning committees. In technical terms, what we need is for your local council planning committee to update their Constitution and Terms of Reference to ensure planning applications for new advertisements are included in "schedule 2" of the national scheme of delegation under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. This needs to be done before 31 October 2026. Take action now! Click through and use our template letter to email your councillors.* Our streets are better without billboards. *Please note that our database of UK councillors is not complete and you may be unable to find your councillors by entering your postcode. If this is the case, you could copy the letter text and email your councillor from your own email account, using your council's website to find your councillor's email address if necessary.",
"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/letters/a-m-protect-our-planning-system"
}