Linlithgow Civic Trust and West Lothian History and Amenity Society
JOINT RESPONSE TO PLANNING CONSULTATION
Proposal: Erection of signboard with electronic message panel at Station Road, Linlithgow
Planning Application Number - 0087/A/10 Colette Maxwell
Applicant West Lothian Council
Observations
This proposal for an INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING PANEL with a small electronic message strip is one of three originally proposed for Linlithgow, the two others having already been dropped because of strong community disapproval. This entirely unnecessary panel is to be situated in an extremely prominent position opposite the station entrance and, as such, will give a poor initial impression to the many visitors we hope to attract to the town, counteracting all the excellent townscape initiatives being implemented.
Given the fact that illuminated advertisements are strictly controlled to prevent detriment to the urban scene, it seems inconceivable that the Council's advertising control policies would permit such installations to be erected at the behest of a private company or individual, particularly not in Linlithgow's Outstanding Conservation Area. Thus, it continues to be extremely disturbing that the Council, which is meant to be the main guardian of West Lothian's environment, is, itself, promoting the erection of such installations, particularly on the grounds that it is receiving money for the right to install them.
With regard to the electronic message panel, there are plenty of other more effective ways of alerting people to community events, road closures, flood risk and missing persons, such as newspapers, TV and radio.
It is believed that the Council agreed to the principle of the advertising scheme quite some time ago and that the Committee concerned may have been given the impression that formal advertisement was not required for the illuminated units. Only now, has this been recognised by the submission of the current application, although it is understood that other installations in West Lothian have been erected without the necessary consent. The position is quite clear: all such illuminated advertisement panels in a public place definitely DO require express consent under the Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984. The exception for local authorities under Schedule 4 of the regulations does not apply. Furthermore, to quote the Scottish Government website: “It is an offence to display an advertisement in contravention of the regulations”. This means that the Council has broken the law in respect of any installations already completed and in operation. It is noted that the pole for the currently-proposed installation is already in place.
Conclusions
The Civic Trust and the WLHAS strongly object to this proposal, on the grounds of detriment to the appearance and character of the Linlithgow Palace and High Street Outstanding Conservation Area and of being contrary to the Council’s own advertising control policies.
Ronald P A Smith BSc MRTPI
Planning Spokesman, Linlithgow Civic Trust
4 Rivaldsgreen Crescent, Linlithgow, EH49 6BB.
Tel: 01506 670758; Email - planning@lct.org.uk
Date 25 February 2010
|
