‘Informal’ style advertising sign rejected on pavement in Chester city centre

Jan 5 2012 by David Norbury, Chester Chronicle

OBJECTIONS were raised when a bid was made to retain a blackboard style sign in the city centre.

The issue arose on the pavement at the junction of Eastgate Street and St Werburgh Street when applicant Alan Smith sought consent for the freestanding advertising.

Conservation officers objected on the grounds that existing signs in the city centre harmed the character and appearance of the internationally important conservation area.

Safety concerns were raised by the council’s highway engineer while Chester Civic Trust objected on the grounds the sign was ‘wholly inappropriate’ for the area.

Planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council had a further objection arguing the sign harmed the visual amenity of the area.

The board had been placed in a ‘prominent location’ where it was unduly out of keeping by virtue of its size, design, siting and informal appearance, planners believed.

It failed to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area and took up ‘considerable space’ on the narrow pavement where it was an unacceptable hazard for pedestrians.

The application was recommended for refusal.

The borough council decided the board could not have consent due to the harm caused to the conservation area and the danger for pedestrians using the pavement.