York business sign ‘installed in middle of night’ partially refused by councillors
Council officers have ruled on a York business sign which was allegedly installed in the middle of the night without planning permission.
City of York Council planning officers partially refused a retrospective application to install an illuminated sign across the window and stallriser of Countoak House, in Front Street, Acomb.
The application stated all the work was carried out under building regulations and to appropriate standards.
But an objector claimed the sign had been sneaked up at 2am, was overbearing and did not fit in with the area.
Council planning officers stated the sign had been crudely installed and caused harm to the building and the surrounding street scene.
They approved a facie sign installed at the rear of the building saying: Mr Mobile Mr Vape but ruled all signs must not be lit up.
The business applied for planning permission for the facia sign and a signage board, both on the York Road side of the building.
The facia sign they applied to get planning permission for measures 2.78m-long, with the signage board measuring 4.55m by 5.25m.
A sign installed on the Front Street side of the building was not included in the plans but officers stated it would have been refused planning permission if it had been.
The sole objector to the plans stated the signs had been installed on the building which borders the Acomb Conservation Area.
They claimed: “The signage was sneaked up at 2am, it’s over bearing and does not fit in with the area.”
Council planning officers stated the sign was poorly-fixed and its design was out-of-place.
They added its size meant it could have a distracting effect on road users, creating a public safety risk.
Officers said: “The larger signage board is crudely fixed and poorly placed across the shop window and stall riser, resting just above ground level, extending up to the underside of the fascia.”