News

LIDL FLAGPOLE SIGN PLANS THROWN OUT

No planning permission for flagpole signs

The flagpole illuminated signs at the Lidl store in Hawkinge have failed to get planning permission even though they have already been erected and switched on.

The plans were refused by Shepway Council under delegated powers. The reason quoted being: " The advertisements by virtue of their size, design, height and illumination present prominent and obtrusive features within the site and as such would result in overly dominant features within the landscape to the detriment on the visual amenities of the area and the character of the Area of Outstanding Natural beauty. The proposal is therefore contrary to the provisions of policies BE9, CO2 and CO3 of the Shepway District Local Plan, BE10, CO1, and CO4 of the Shepway District Local Plan Review (Revised deposit Draft) in that the signs are detrimental to interests of amenity".

It was not until the Gazette received a reader's letter on Monday (19 December) querying whether planning permission had been granted that we followed up the enquiry and discovered that the plans for the two illuminated flagpoles had in fact been turned down on 1 December 2005.

Hawkinge Parish Council Chairman David Callahan told the Gazette that having the matter now brought to his attention  he would be contacting the enforcement officer at Shepway Council immediately to see if there was a breach in planning permission.

By the end of Monday he had reported the matter to the council planners and they were contacting the Lidl bosses immediately.