Agenda item

(Director of Planning and Economic Development) To consider the attached report.

The Committee considered an application for sponsored advertisement signs at 15 locations in the district including roundabouts and highway verges. The Committee’s attention was drawn to 3 letters of representation from Loughton Town Council, Ongar Town Council and a resident in Englands Lane, Loughton.

The Committee considered each location separately having taken representations at the meeting. It was considered that some of the locations were appropriate for signs and should be granted but some were inappropriate to their proposed setting.

Resolved:

(1)        That Advertisement Consent for the signage at the following locations be granted:

Signs at locations at 2, 3, 6, 9 10, 11

Location 2.      Roundabout: Honey Lane South of M25.  3 signs type A.

Location 3.      Roundabout: Honey Lane north of M25. 4 signs type A.

Location 6.      Roundabout: Abbeyview/Highbridge Street. 4 signs type A.

Location 9.      Roundabout: The Talbot/A414. 4 signs type A.

Location 10.    Roundabout: Four Wantz/A414. 4 signs type A.

Location 11.    Roundabout: London Road A113/A1112. 3 signs type B.

Subject to the following condition:

Before the signs hereby approved are placed on the roundabouts, details of landscaping enhancement of the roundabout shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Local Planning Authority.  The details as agreed shall be carried out within 2 months of the erection of the signs, in respect of each roundabout.

Reason:  In the interest of visual amenity.

(2)        That Advertisement Consent for the signage at the following locations be refused for the reasons listed:

Signs at locations at 4, 5, 7, 15

Location 4.      Roundabout: Sewardstone Road/A121. 4 Signs type A.

Location 5.      Roundabout: Lower Island Way/A121. 4 signs type A.

Location 7.      Roundabout: Abbeyview/Crooked Mile. 4 Signs type A.

Location 15.    Central Reservation: Chigwell Lane, opposite exit from M11. 2-4 signs type B.

Reason for Refusal:

The proposed signage, given its location, is likely to be a distraction to drivers, that may result in early braking that could result in harm to highway safety, contrary to policies DBE13 and ST4 of the Adopted Local Plan and Alterations.

Signs at locations at 1, 8

Location 1.      Roundabout: Epping New Road/Earls Path. 2 signs type B.

Location 8.      Roundabout: Epping New Road/Woodridden Hill. 5 signs type A.

Reason for Refusal:

The proposed adverts would fail to protect or enhance the historic nature and unique character of Epping Forest and therefore will be contrary to policy HC5 of the Adopted Local Plan and Alterations.

Signs at locations at 12, 13, 14

Location 12.    Roundabout: Ongar Road, Stapleford Aerodrome. 3 Signs type A.

Location 13.    Roundabout: Rayley Lane North/ A414. 3 signs type A.

Location 14.    Roundabout: Rayley Lane South/Vicarage Lane. 3 signs type A.

Reason for Refusal:

The proposed signs would be harmful to the rural landscape and surrounding countryside, contrary to policies LL2 of the Adopted Local Plan and Alterations.