Scottish school's tire firm sponsorship signs banned

ERJ staff report (BC)

London – Signs put up at a school as part of a sponsorship deal with a tire company have been taken down as a council seeks "clarification" on advertising, reports BBC News South Scotland.

Senior staff at Galashiels Academy are said to have agreed a financial package with the local firm Ostle's Tires during the summer.

Boards were erected throughout the school grounds, with the main entrance sign in the driveway featuring Ostle’s logo with the strapline "A local company supporting local education" and the message "Please drive carefully".

However, the day before pupils were due to return from the school holidays this week the signs were removed.

Education chiefs at Scottish Borders Council's (SBC) headquarters at Newtown St Boswells took the decision to take the signs down until they came up with a firm policy for private sponsorship at schools in the region.

SBC education chairman Sandy Aitchison is quoted as saying: "Negotiations are continuing and there is a need for some clarification whether we can have advertising within schools.

"There are legal issues which need to be addressed.”

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BBC News story