Agenda item

Councillors John Woodford and Richard Gibson had each declared a personal interest in this item and in accordance with Standing Order 34 remained in the meeting room.

The Committee noted that the application was for 13 repeater signs, rather than the 11 referred to in the report.

Officers explained that the material considerations of this application were narrowly focussed as it was an application under the Advertisement Regulations and therefore the Committee could only consider the visual impact of the proposed signage on the amenity of the area and the potential harm to highway safety as a result of the signage.

The Committee was shown photographs of mock-up signs which had been attached to sign posts in order to demonstrate their impact. Officers advised that no objections had been raised by the County Engineer on highways grounds.

Officers stated that several letters of objection had been received from worshippers of Trinity Church and St Michael’s Church, who were concerned with how the scheme would operate. Officers advised that this was a matter for Christ’s Hospital, not for the Development Control Committee.

Officers advised that the reason that there would be such a number of signs, repeated frequently was to ensure that the scheme was workable. It was commented that it was necessary for motorists to be aware that the scheme was in operation in order to facilitate the prosecution of offenders.

Officers commented that Abingdon Town Council had raised no objections, subject to the approval of the District Council’s Conservation Officer. It was confirmed that the Conservation Officer had raised no concerns.

Mr Robin Smith made a statement, objecting to the application. He argued that by its very nature the signs would have visual impact in order to make them noticeable enough to ensure prosecutions were successful. He commented that at no point would someone be out of sight of a sign. He considered that the yellow clamp in the centre of the sign was unattractive and not in keeping with the Conservation Area. He stated that the signs would be distracting to motorists and therefore would have an impact on highway safety. He commented that the crossroads of Victoria Road and Park Road was very busy and narrow and drivers would be distracted by additional signs informing them of the parking scheme. He advised that this must be the case because it was the intention of the signs to attract the attention of drivers informing them of the scheme.

Mr Geoffrey Morris made a statement in support of the application. He advised that he was a Master of Christ’s Hospital. He stated that the road and park were the property of the charity and had not been made to modern specifications. He commented that parked cars were affecting highway safety and this scheme aimed to resolve this issue. Furthermore he stated that the charity could not afford to keep up with the maintenance of the grass verges which were being damaged by vehicles. He commented that the Charity had received advice that legal action would not be successful against motorists parked illegally unless there were adequate signs advising motorists that they must not park. He confirmed that meetings had taken place with Officers and they had proposed a design which would have minimal impact, and the repeater signs would actually be no larger than a piece of A4 paper.

He advised that the Charity would be willing to negotiate with residents or worshippers who had concerns about the working of the scheme.

One of the Local Members commented that parking was a real problem and that the introduction of the scheme would displace the parking problem from Park Road and Park Crescent elsewhere. He advised that there would be an impact on Abingdon School and the residents. He commented that many of those who had objected to the scheme were in fact not resident in the ward, but worshippers at the two affected churches. He questioned whether Officers and Christ’s Hospital had considered the partial implementation of the scheme with the option of reviewing the position at some later date. He expressed his hope that enforcement of the scheme would be sympathetic, given that often there would be people wishing to park attending funerals or weddings. He advised that given the Officer’s comments there was little option but to approve the application.

The Chair commented that the Committee was only able to consider whether the application affected visual amenity in the area and whether highway safety would be affected. He advised that he was unconvinced of the highway safety effects of the scheme. He commented that the CountyEngineer was happy with the application and therefore he did not consider that there were any grounds to refuse the application.

The Chair advised that Mr Smith, one of the speakers had a valid point, the signs would have a visual impact, as they must in order to serve their purpose. He advised that he considered the impact to be slightly detrimental but not harmful.

One Member agreed that there were no highways grounds to refuse the application, and he pointed out that within the conservation area there were signs of twenty first century, for example, double yellow lines. He advised that he considered that the signs were acceptable and hoped that Christ’s Hospital would negotiate permits for people attending functions at the churches. He suggested that the signs should be on black poles, rather than grey.

Some Members were concerned about the size of the signs in that they contained lots of information and questioned whether they would be of sufficient size to convey all of the information. One Member was concerned that Christ’s Hospital would be unable to prosecute offending motorists if the signs were too small. He was worried that this would prompt a further application from Christ’s Hospital to make the signs bigger.

Officers confirmed that the notion of having a trial of the scheme had not been discussed with Christ’s Hospital.

By 12 votes to 3 votes it was

RESOLVED

that application ABG/20379 be approved subject to:-

(1)               the standard advertising conditions;

(2)               an informative to provide that the mounted poles for the signs be painted black: and

(3)               an informative providing that Christ’s Hospital should enter into negotiations with Abingdon School, Trinity Church and St Michael’s Church with a view to providing parking permits for special events.