Agenda item

12.1

The Director of Development Services submitted a report on his investigation into a complaint concerning a breach of planning control in respect of an illegal sign at the Dore Masonic Hall Company Ltd.  The report stated that two signs at the property had been replaced by the owners and that the complaint received related to the sign at the entrance to the drive.  It was explained that this sign, in a slightly altered position, was felt by a neighbour to be unsightly and a danger to vehicles reversing out of their adjoining drive.

12.2

An assessment of both signs viewed them to be acceptable and did not have a detrimental impact on visibility or highway safety and as such were not considered contrary to Policy BE13 of the Unitary Development Plan.

12.3

The Committee heard submissions from (a) the resident who had made the complaint in respect of the sign, who highlighted concerns over its new position at the end of the Masonic Hall drive which, in summary, he considered it to be untidy, out of character and caused difficulties with the visual splay when reversing out of the drive on to Dore Road and that planning permission was required, and he requested that the sign be relocated to its original position and (b) the Chair of the Masonic Hall, who in summary, indicated that the sign had been in the location for 35 years and that whilst it was not the identical  sign in the same position, it had only moved position slightly and was still located on the drive within the boundary of the property.

12.4

RESOLVED: That this Committee concurs with the officer’s planning assessment and, accordingly, no further action be taken in respect of the two new signs at Dore Masonic Hall, Dore Road.