2 June 2009 · Senior Planning Officer (delegated under Town and Country (Development Procedure) Order 2005)
The Nook Apartment, Quarterbridge, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 5eg
The proposal sought express consent under the Control of Advertisements Regulations 2005 for permanent plywood boards (1m tall x 20m long) along the roadside boundary at The Nook to display temporary vinyl advertising banners unrelated to the site.
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The officer assessed the proposal against General Policies 2, 6 and 7 of the IoM Strategic Plan 2007, finding it harmed visual amenities by its design, scale, siting and number at a prominent junction…
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect surroundings, not adversely affect townscape character, amenity, or road safety. Officer found signage harmed landscape/townscape at prominent junction, adversely affected locality amenity, and impacted road safety/traffic flows.
General Policy 6
Permits site-related advertisements in towns if high design standard, in keeping with area, no highway hazard. Assessed as low quality design/materials not relating well to site, detracting from surroundings, and creating safety hazard.
General Policy 7
Generally prohibits external advertisements on unrelated sites/buildings in towns/villages. Signs for multiple businesses unrelated to The Nook failed this test directly, amplifying visual prominence.
no objection to the proposal
Highways Division strongly objects due to highway safety risks, projection over highway, and lack of policy to permit advertising; Douglas Corporation and Manx Electricity Authority have no objection with conditions; other representations object on visual and safety grounds.
Key concern: driver distraction and projection over highway at high-accident Quarterbridge junction
Department of Transport Highways Division
ObjectionThe Highways Division originally objected to the application on the grounds that: The proposed hoarding and banners will project over the highway. The DoT has no powers or policy to allow advertising on the highway.; We will be objecting as any advertisements on the wall will be overhanging the highway and we don't have a policy that allows us to permit advertisements in this situation.; There have been 21 accidents in the last three years at Quarterbridge making it the no 1 accident location on the Island outside of TT and MGP periods.; The Department ... strenuously objects to the inclusion of any advertisements at this site.
Conditions requested: All service vehicles to park off the highway; The content and design of any advertisement should be submitted to the DoT to ensure that it is clearly legible to all road users and will not cause a distraction to drivers contrary to the interest of highway safety
Douglas Corporation
No ObjectionDouglas Corporation have no objection to the proposals listed below.; 09/00485/D Erection of roadside advertising signage, The Nook Quarterbridge Road
Manx Electricity Authority
Conditional No ObjectionThere are Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area indicated in you Planning Application.; Please contact our Network Operations Department, Manx Electricity Authority, (Tel. 687687) to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines
Conditions requested: applicant must contact the Authority; Contact our Network Operations Department... to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines which may be required to be diverted before any work can be carried out on site; Contact the M.E.A. for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents... before any work is carried out on site. All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 & GS6; MEA requires 24 hours unrestricted access to the cables in the Public Highway
The original application (09/00485/D) for erection of 1m tall x 20m long plywood boards for temporary vinyl banners on the roadside boundary was refused by the Department of Local Government and the Environment. The appellant argued for standardization of signage, reduction to 10m length, comparison to existing signs in the area, and proper management of the site. The Department and DoT objected on grounds of visual amenity harm to a prominent junction and residential area, pedestrian encroachment, and driver distraction at the Island's top accident location. The inspector, following written representations and a site visit, concluded the signs would unacceptably mar the attractive residential open space and pose a major distraction hazard at the complex junction. The appeal was recommended for dismissal.
Precedent Value
Demonstrates that at high-accident, prominent junctions, advertising signs are unlikely to succeed even with concessions on size/standards due to direct driver sightlines and visual prominence over residential open space. Future applicants must prioritise road safety evidence over comparisons to other signs.
Inspector: John S Turner
