ADVERTISING on bus shelters in Tavistock took a step forward last week when members of the town council?s properties committee gave the concept the thumbs up. But an offer to provide free seating benches around the town, in return for advertising, was rejected by members. Councillors heard that advertising company Media South West had offered to supply and install custom-made benches, which would be maintained by the company for at least five years. This would include weekly checks and replacement of worn or vandalised components within 48 hours. The benches would carry ?discrete, A3 sized advertising?, the revenue from which would be kept by Media South West. The company has also offered to supply, install and maintain notice-boards, in return for between 50% and 100% of advertising revenue. The committee heard Media South West was ?very optimistic? about the prospect for bus shelter advertising in the town. A spokesman said the company was gathering feedback from advertisers on what they thought of advertising on bus shelters: ?We already have two advertisers who are now keen to book a few bus shelter ads. We are thus very optimistic about the revenue potential and may even consider refurbishing some of the shelters for free.? Cllr Robin Pike told the committee the council?s best value working group had considered the idea of advertising on benches in the town, but was ?a bit reluctant? to take the proposal on board. But it was happy with the bus shelter advertising concept. Works superintendent Wayne Southall said the majority of the benches had memorial plaques attached to them. ?It?s a sensitive issue,? he said. Cllr Maxine Gibson said: ?I think if people have paid to have memorials on seats they are not going to be very pleased to have a whopping great advert on them.? Town clerk Roger Howard told the committee he had forwarded the idea of notice-board advertising to West Devon Borough Council, as it owned most of the boards in its car parks. Members agreed the clerk should write back to Media South West thanking them for their help with the bus shelters, but rejecting the idea of bench advertising. The decision was due to be ratified by the full council at its meeting on Tuesday.
