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By DAN CARRIER
 

Actor Lee Montague with the offending poster flanked by Friends member June Grune left, and New Journal feature writer Ruth Gorb, right, who also help organise events.
Library supporters told: Your tree posters break the law

VOLUNTEERS who have raised thousands of pounds to help keep a library open were threatened with legal action and a fine of £2,500 for taping posters advertising their events to trees in Hampstead.
But the Town Hall withdrew its threat after the intervention of the New Journal.
The Friends of Heath Library, who ran a campaign to stop the library being closed 12 years ago, hold monthly talks by well-known faces to boost the Keats Grove institute’s coffers.
Actor Lee Montague, who helps run the talks, said he was shocked to receive a letter from a Town Hall street enforcement officer threatening court action over a poster advertising a discussion with the actor David Hare.
He said: “I received a letter warning me about putting posters on council furniture.”
The group put up around 15 posters on trees in Hampstead and South End Green each month. The letter added that the posters were contravening part 132(1) of the 1980 Highways Act – which carries a maximum fine of £2,500.
Mr Montague was given seven days to respond before the council instigated legal proceedings.
The group has raised cash to restore the foyer and the roof of the library – and has helped Camden Council save money on book stocks.
Mr Montague added: “We use tape so we don’t damage the tree in any way, and we also take them down again after the event.”
Recent speakers at the library events have included former Monty Python star Michael Palin, broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, author Margaret Drabble, actor Emma Thompson and opera director and philosopher Jonathan Miller, who have all given their services for free.
A Town Hall spokesman said: “We were explaining that there is an act that says this is an offence. But we are not going to prosecute them. However, people putting posters up need to let the council officers know where they are going.”
Two years ago, Alan Walter, a campaigner for pressure group Defend Council Housing (DCH), was threatened with a criminal prosecution after he put up posters advertising public meetings. After pressure from Labour backbenchers, the council backed down.
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