Dear Editor,

Who is responsible for regulating billboard roadside advertising in the Columbia Valley? When I passed through the area on the way from Calgary to the West Kootenays last summer, I was surprised at the extent of roadside advertising south from Radium Hot Springs.

I was happy to escape it further south and west. I found the level of advertising very excessive — it was a distraction from driving, it made long sections of the drive feel ugly and cheap and it totally put me off spending more time in the area.

There is simply no need to scar this otherwise attractive area with endless advertisements for chain restaurants, truck dealers and real estate agents.

Many people I have spoken to since agree — yet it is something people rarely put pen to paper (or fingertips to ipad) to complain about.

Sam Lawn

Calgary

Editor’s Note: The billboards in question are located on Shuswap Band  land, on property owned by an individual band member, and are not managed by band administration.  There are other billboards on the highway located near Fairmont Hot Springs.