A Calgary Judge has upheld the ban on advertising on the sides of trailers in Foothills County.

In his ruling Court of Queens Bench Justice, Nick Devlin, says "The bylaw banning the advertising form is a justifiable breach of the right to free speech."

County Reeve, Suzanne Oel, says it's good news, but also allows them to move forward and work with residents.

"I think it was for us an ability for us to enforce our bylaws related to these trailer billboards. But also that we were asked to work with the residents who would like to have their special message out there."

Oel says the ruling broke it down into two issues, one being commercial advertising and another of free speech.

"We've never had a problem with that. It's just the type of signage is not attractive and it's something that we could work with residents to work within the County's guidelines and then we could satisfy everybody."

Oel, says this is probably not the last we've heard of this issue.

"Decisions are subject to appeal and we would await that. In the meantime, we'll move forward with asking for those others to be removed. But this one here and some of the others, we're giving them a period of grace so that we can allow them to have that time to do the action."

She says they will work with landowners to come up with a plan to allow them to express themselves.

 

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