Firm loses battle over cigarette ad bins

One of Europe's biggest taxi firms today lost a legal battle over its unauthorised installation of cigarette "adbins" outside pubs and restaurants.

For more than three years, Addison Lee has sponsored more than 19,000 "adbins" outside businesses across London where smokers could leave their discarded butts.

Today, a judge ruled that the business - which has more than 2,500 minicabs - acted illegally by erecting some of the bins without planning permission.

Westminster City Council brought the legal action over 21 advertisements at seven sites - six of which are in conservation areas.

All the bins featured Addison Lee advertising - 19 also featured Adbins advertising, a subsidiary of the cab firm.

Addison Lee was ordered to pay the council's costs of £21,407, was fined £480 and will have to remove the 21 bins.

Robert Davis, deputy leader of Westminster Council, said: "We are pleased with today's decision.

"It ensures that no precedent is set whereby one commercial organisation can decide for themselves where and when they are entitled to advertise without seeking the necessary consent.

"Our guidelines are in place to prevent Westminster being overrun with excessive adverts.

"To have buildings in Westminster covered with advertising would ruin the borough's appearance, character and harm amenity.

"Unfortunately, Addison Lee and Adbins put up their cigarette bins advertising their services without the relevant permission.

"We advised them as far back as 2008 that they were in the wrong but they refused to remove their advertisements.

"That is why we took this action through the courts."

Addison Lee chairman John Griffin said the action contradicted the council's trumpeting of the 'Big Society' which it previously said it was "determined" to make a reality.

The Big Society idea sees individuals and businesses acting for the greater good, often voluntarily and under less red tape.

"I stood up in court today and told them that their Big Society is nothing but a farce," said Mr Griffin.

"They advocate individuals and businesses taking responsibility and yet they are targeting us when what we are doing is making the capital a more pleasant place to live."

Mr Griffin said no members of the public had complained.

And he hit out at the council, claiming Coca-Cola sponsored more than 250 of its bins in London.

He said: "The hypocrisy is staggering - apparently sponsoring bins in public places is all right providing Westminster gets a cut, but if it's only helping local businesses, they'd rather have people dropping litter on the street."