Business advertising plans rejected

Saturday 21 September 2024

Efforts to install an illuminated sign and advertising flag at Cobo have been thwarted after planning said they would not be in keeping with the area.

The owner of Mim's Kiosk near Albecq had applied for planning permission for both but was recently told it was refused.

"The sign to the north-east gable of the kiosk and the advertising flag proposed under this application are disproportionate to the scale of the built form at this site, resulting in obtrusive and incongruous features within the coastal setting," said the refusal notice.

"The proposals would not represent a good standard of design which respects the visual character of the local environment, contrary to the requirements of Policy GP8 a)&c) (Design) and OC4c) (Retail Outside of the Centres) in the Island Development Plan."

The refusal notice also states that while there were no known objections to the kiosk being built in 1979, concerns have been raised over its recent usage.

Of 11 letters of representation sent to the Development and Planning Authority regarding the application made by Mim's Kiosk, at least one said the development was "moving away from a kiosk to a fast food take away".

Another said: "There is no need for illumination if the premises are not open after dark and the kiosk already stands out enough."

One resident claimed that bright pink lighting installed at the kiosk last winter "lit up the whole common and surrounding areas" while others said the proposed illuminated sign would distract road users, would result in light pollution, and would detract from the natural beauty of the area. 

Other concerns were raised about the impact of the illuminated sign on wildlife, or that it would be bad for the environment and "incongruous" to the area. 

The suggested flag pole - with a double sided advertisement for the kiosk - was also refused, with one comment claiming that it would have "a detrimental impact upon the visual character and nature of this prominent coastal site".

The DPA acknowledged that a flag used to fly at that same location advertising a 'Beach Award'. That did not have planning permission, but as no complaints were made it was allowed to stay up for three years.

As the proposed flag would be a business advertisement and would be "extremely large in size relative to the size of the flagpole, the building and the surrounding area" permission was refused.