Ersan & Co Solicitors disputes local council directive to remove Green Lanes video display
The video screens were recently playing footage from Ersan & Co’s opening gala last year
By Michael Daventry
A Turkish-run law firm is taking Haringey Council to court to defend its video screens that beam all-night footage of traffic accidents to the street.
The looped adverts for Ersan & Co Solicitors, shown on two monitors installed in the firm’s office windows on Green Lanes, have been described by residents as “horrific” and “extremely intrusive”.
A user on the Harringay Online community site wrote: “My gripe is that they show videos on a constant loop of all of the worst things which can happen.
“There is one video in particular which features an awful car accident where a car crosses into the oncoming lane and is obliterated by a truck.”
The video clip carries the message “Had An Accident? You could be entitled to one of the chosen gifts” before showing images of an Apple iPhone, a laptop and Turkish ‘Cumhuriyet’ gold coins. The items are awarded to clients who chose Ersan & Co to handle their personal injury claims.
Other footage shown on the screens, which operate 24 hours a day, includes footage of the firm’s opening gala in September.
Following complaints from local residents Haringey Council ordered Ersan & Co Solicitors to remove the video screens, but the firm has now decided to challenge the order in court.
The video screens are the subject of a legal dispute
A hearing in Tottenham Magistrates Court will take place this month.
A Haringey Council spokesman said: “It is unacceptable for traders to put up garish displays like this without planning permission, and this case has prompted many complaints from local residents.
“We will always take enforcement action where necessary to protect the character of Haringey’s high streets.”
Ersan & Co had not responded to requests for comment before Londra Gazete went to print on Wednesday evening.
[otw_shortcode_info_box border_type=”bordered” border_color_class=”otw-silver-border” border_style=”bordered” background_color_class=”otw-silver”]UPDATE | Ersan & Co Solicitors sent Londra Gazete the following statement:
The article published in the edition of 7/5/2015 contains factual errors.
Para 1 – The screens do not currently show footage of traffic accidents
Para 4 – There is no feature of an ‘awful car accident’ running on our screens
Para 5 – The footage relating to gifts was removed on or before 13th April 2015 when a ban on inducements in Personal Injury claims came into force.
The firm believes it has complied with the current legislation and that the Council’s objection is without foundation. A court will decide who is correct and this firm will of course abide by its decision[/otw_shortcode_info_box]
Local politicians are among those shown in the video footage