High noon for unsightly signs

CONTROVERSY GENERATOR: THE blue and red window signs and large yellow sign over the door have been disallowed by the council, though the remaining yellow signs have been approved.

Oldham Planning Committee
ENFORCEMENT action is being launched by Oldham Council today unless some signs at the Cash Generator store in Royton are removed.

Legal proceedings against the owners of the new store, based in the former Barclays Bank building in Rochdale Road, will be launched unless the outside signs in the old window spaces are taken down.

But councillors at yesterday’s planning meeting approved an application for two 8.5m long illuminated fascia signs under the parapet roof, and one internally-illuminated projecting sign on the building.

The controversial signage has caused uproar in the community with residents calling it ugly, excessive and putting the town in a bad light.

The store owners were ordered to remove the signs at the end of July as they had not been council-authorised.

Planning chairman Councillor Steven Bashforth said he had previously spoken out against the signs in the windows.

A total of 28 emailed objections were received against the application, suggesting the window signs were an eyesore on a historic building in a prominent location, a distraction to motorists, unnecessary and detrimental to other businesses. Two emails of support were received.

Royton North councillor Bernard Judge said councillors had been inundated with complaints: “It is vital to make it absolutely clear that buildings with architectural value such as the former bank are not to be defaced in this way.”

Planning officers recommended approval on the grounds that the three signs were consistent with the previous Barclays signs and did not obscure important architectural details.

But they added that the sign above the main entrance, and especially the panel signs, were subject to continuing enforcement proceedings.

Councillors voted to follow officer recommendation and approve the three signs.