An estate agent has taken to Twitter to chastise the council for allegedly fining them over a charity advertisement.

Lee Hassan, who works at Connells estate agents in Chelmsford, put up a picture of the cake stand the branch had set up to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer.

He wrote on the Tweet that the company received a fine of £100 for advertising this stall and he called the council's actions "disgusting".

He also attached a picture of the board with the advertisement on it.


A spokesman for the council said: “The Public Space Protection Order relating to the advertising boards is in place to reduce the impact of such boards on the pedestrians, residents and visitors using the footpaths, especially for those who are visually impaired or disabled.  

"Unfortunately, exemptions cannot be made for charities or charitable purposes as it is the advertising board that is the problem not the advert. All businesses within the City Centre are fully aware of the Public Space Protection Order.”

A Connells spokesman said: "Connells of course abides by the Public Space Protection Order as set out by Chelmsford City Council. 

"The temporary placement of the board outside the premises was an isolated error which will not be repeated and was simply driven, on this occasion, by good intentions from the branch team to raise money for charity."