Hollinwood sign: M60 safety fear

Reporter: by RICHARD HOOTON
Date online: 30 October 2009

THE Highways Agency has moved to scupper a businessman’s dreams of putting Oldham on the world map with a touch of Hollywood glamour.

Only hours after scoring a sensational victory by getting planning permission to re-create the world-famous Tinseltown sign next to the M60 in Hollinwood, Frank Rothwell has been told they won’t allow it.

As landowner, the agency says it will not give permission for the sign to be built on its land.

But the Manchester Cabins boss remains defiant and is hoping to persuade them into a U-turn.

Oldham hit the headlines when the 8ft-high letters were mysteriously erected at the junction 22 slip-road in August.

The sign was immediately removed by the agency, which branded it unsafe.

Mr Rothwell submitted a planning application — approved by Oldham Council’s planning committee on Wednesday — against their own officers’ advice.

Councillors said it was fantastic and would do good for Hollinwood.

But the Highways Agency says that it made clear in a letter to the council that should the sign get the advertising consent, then under the Advertisement Regulations 2007, a standard condition would have to be attached.

Discussions

This reads: “No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of the site or any other person with an interest in the site entitled to grant permission.”

A spokesman said: “Our concerns were raised during the planning application stage and our views have not changed now that the sign has planning permission.

“The Highways Agency believes that the sign is entirely inappropriate: our first concern is always the safety of motorway users and by its very nature this sign would cause drivers to take their eyes off the road.”

An undeterred Mr Rothwell said: “The Highways Agency don’t own the land — we all own it. If every person in the country said they wanted something to happen to that land then that will happen. It’s a small piece of land and the people of Oldham want the sign.

“It’s one step at a time and we will see what we can do.”

Mr Rothwell also needs to clear the sign with Global Icons, the firm with the copyright and image rights to the Californian landmark, who contacted the council to say his sign breaches their rights.

He’s pledged to open discussions with them.