ORGANISERS of a late-night shopping event have been threatened with a £2,500 fine for using banners to advertise the evening.
The Crowthorne event organisers were contacted by Bracknell Forest Council, who warned that they did not have advertising consent for the banners.
The council told the organisers that they needed to pay for an advertising licence, which would cost £462.
Co-organiser of the event, Caroline Newman was surprised they asked for the banners to be removed.
“We’ve been advertising the event with banners for countless years, but the issue has only been raised with us this year.
“We didn’t know we needed a licence. We have decided to take the banners down as we cannot cover the cost.”
Instead, the event organisers have created posters and flyers, which are being displayed in shop windows around Crowthorne.
The event is still scheduled to go ahead.
“It’s going to be a good one,” said Ms Newman. “Each year it grows and grows. This year we have lots of characters for the children to see. We’ve got Spider-man, Batman, the princesses from Frozen, as well as a Santa’s grotto.
“So far we have 25 stalls signed up, live music and all of the local shops will be joining in too.”
The late-night shopping event will take place across the village centre on Friday, December 6 from 5pm to 8.30pm.
