EXPECTATIONS that a Thurrock Council revenue-generating scheme would prove successful appear to have fallen flat and will be reviewed shortly.

Tn February this year the authority announced it was planning to adorn around 100 sites across the borough with advertising banners in an attempt to raise cash.

The council signed a two year contract with a London-based advertising company, Bay Media Ltd, tasked with selling advertising space on two meter high banners from lampposts at a number of borough locations.

To date it appears that just a few banners have gone up in Grays town centre - promoting the council's own activities.

The council is still trying to promote the sale of advertising in Clarence Road, Crown Road, New Road and Orsett Road in Grays but they appear to be the only sites available.

In its application for planning permission for the banners Bay Media, which worked on the project in with the council's strategy, communications and customer services directorate, said it prides itself on providing an 'incredibly high quality product that will ensure advertising provides income for Thurrock Council and help business and events while at the same time not adversely affecting the visual amenity in Thurrock'.

The council now appears to be backtracking on its optimistic hopes for the project, telling ThurrockNubNews this week: "The lamppost banner scheme is primarily in place to generate additional income but also represents an opportunity to promote council messaging and campaigns.

"The scheme started in Grays and will be reviewed in the New Year to see if it is appropriate for other areas of the borough."

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The council has not said what, if any revenue has been generated, and has declined to say how much it has spent on the project to date.