Advert opponents hail ‘victory for common sense’
GREEN LIGHT How the lamp posts with adverts on could look
CAMPAIGNERS were delighted after plans to put up more than 100 advertising banners on lamp posts across Portsmouth were scaled back.
As reported in The News highways contractor Colas caused concern when it applied for planning permission to put up the 2m-tall signs in some of the city’s most popular streets.
Residents raised fears that the plans could turn the city into a ‘giant advertising hoarding’ covered in signs promoting companies like Tesco, Lidl and Sony.
But ahead of a planning committee meeting this week applications for dozens of the banners in Albert Road, Osborne Road and Palmerston Road were withdrawn following local opposition.
The council then refused permission for 38 signs to be put up in Mile End Road because they could pose a danger by distracting drivers. One sign in Edinburgh Road was also refused permission for being too close to Victoria Park and St John’s Cathedral.
Steve Pitt is chairman of Portsmouth Cultural Partnership, which objected to the plans, and said: ‘I am very pleased with the outcome – it was a victory for common sense. We have always said we are not against the banners in principle, we just wanted a proper dialogue about where they should go, rather than rushing through plans and ending up with signs that nobody wants.’
Chris Zair is an account manager with Bay Media – the firm which designs and installs the signs – and he agreed that the decision was a positive one.
‘We got the chance to speak with the cultural partnership and put across our message,’ he said. ‘We are not trying to cover Portsmouth from head to toe in McDonald’s adverts.’
He added that the company had not decided whether to appeal the decision or resubmit its application.
BANNER NUMBERS
APPROVED:
· Isambard Brunel Road, 18 banners
· Stanhope Road, seven banners
· Edinburgh Road, six banners
· Hope Street, four banners
TOTAL:
· 35 banners approved
REJECTED:
· Mile End Road, 38 banners
· Edinburgh Road, one banner
TOTAL:
· 39 banners rejected
WITHDRAWN:
· Osborne Road, eight banners
· Palmerston Road, five banners
· Albert Road, 28 banners
TOTAL:
· 41 banners withdrawn
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
dave3974
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 07:16 PMwhat a shame
PUPPPU
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 06:08 PMPCC - the council that seeks to sqeeze every penny out of users of leisure facilities and yet spends millions on political footballs -- - Pyramids, Mountbatten Centre and now wants to spend more money at Canoe Lake because---and wait for it----every pound we put in , it gets £9 back in grants. Well----I say, don't spend the pound here, put it where momney is really needed
PUPPPU
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 06:00 PMWhy didn't the council have the foresight to see this as a money earning scheme rather than leaving it to the private company Colas.
Graham Wheatley
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:27 AMA sensible decision for once. From a safety point of view, we should not install anything that increases driver distraction in areas where the road layout can be confusing, especially for visitors.
southseabeach
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:26 PMSpot in gcpfc! At least with tv we have the remote control to avoid adverts. Banners and posters around the city are an eyesore, and unnecessary
gcpfc
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 04:33 PMThere should not be any, this city has enough problems without the mess of advertising banners.Surely the revenue they might raise is not worth the city being made to look cheap and drivers being distracted. there is too much advertising in all of our lives lets have less not more.
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