Public outrage has reached new heights over the continued, and increased, problem of what has become known as poster pollution, which is defacing our scenic roads, quaint village squares and local streets.

In Gouves Township there are posters in varying stages of decay plastered on walls of buildings, electricity poles, fences, and on make-shift billboards popping up in vacant lots and on top of buildings – even on town refuse bins and public benches.  

The advertising posters are promoting such things as locksmiths, electricians, property fencing and cesspool cleaning, but the biggest offenders are bars and nightclubs advertising their special nights with “famous” artists.

Even political parties, which should know better, are cluttering the streets with posters advertising rallies and gatherings.

One of the most recent offenders is the KKE, polluting our local streets to promote a rally in Iraklion, which is long past.

It was suggested the party organize its “workers” to take them down! 

When queried about the problem, Gouves Mayor Yiorgos Nikolakakis acknowledged the existence of poster pollution.

However, according to the mayor, even with the eight-month contractual workers added to the work force, poster clean-up is still way down on the totem pole, as there are so many things to do and so little time to do them.

For example, the hundreds of decaying posters polluting the scenic drive between Kokkini Hani and Karteros are still there, even though the vice mayor promised to have them removed months ago.

 “With only one municipal policeman,” the mayor added, “we must depend on the people’s conscience to not poster-pollute municipal property.”

While not specifically mentioned or endorsed by the mayor, there seems to be a growing opposition to poster polluters, and many concerned residents are calling for a boycott of any business or activity that defaces local streets with illegal postings.

Meanwhile, Hersonissos Mayor Spiros Danellis, on the other hand, pointed out that the council voted last month to keep this keep under control in their township.

“We have special frames in areas where businesses can advertise with posters along the Main Street and side roads, and our municipal policemen will issue some stiff fines for those not observing the township’s ordinances,” he said. “And, believe me; we intend to collect the fines!”

Mayor Nikolakakis admitted that the Gouves Township has not yet set up “legal areas” for the legal postings but promised to aggressively pursue the poster offenders once that requirement is met.

“Once we have the designated area for posters, then we can send our municipal police out to issue summonses to those that don’t comply with the law,” he said. “And very soon we will have tripled the number of local policemen.”