Signage at Tesco’s latest Isle of Wight venture has been refused due to one sign being too tall.
In the run-up to the opening of its new Freshwater store, taking over the Southern Co-Operative site, the supermarket giant submitted plans to install signs on the building, around the car park and on the roadside.
However, one sign has thrown a spanner into the works and halted plans progressing, as the Isle of Wight Council’s planning department deemed it would dominate the Afton Road street scene.
Sitting on the edge of the road, a gantry sign was proposed, standing 5.7 metres high and internally illuminated.
The current sign, advertising the Co-op store, which is set to close later this year, stands at 4.3 metres — 1.4 metres smaller than the proposed Tesco sign — and only lit up when the store was open.
One objector commented on the application, saying the sign was excessively large and visually intrusive.
They said the sign, in itself, was unnecessary as the store would not be overlooked by any passing motorist or pedestrian.
The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) partnership said the sign would cause unnecessary light pollution and impact the special qualities of the nearby AONB.
The Co-op’s signage, the partnership said, had been designed to be muted and blend into the natural environment whereas the height, colours and extent of the Teso signs were ‘far more prominent and urbanising.’
In their planning report, council officers said the majority of signage would be of appropriate design but had significant concerns over the gantry sign.
Officers agreed the sign was excessive in height, with its large dimensions appearing incongruous and out of character.
The issues with the one sign led to the rejection of all the other new ones on-site, as part of the same application.
Tesco is set to take over the store in autumn this year when the sale is finalised.
How pathetic they allow hundreds of houses on green sites and object to a sign.
OMG! well it will just have to be made smaller then. Simples!
It is the end of the world as we know it.
Omg, it’s a sign? why do people have to make everything such a chore? Tesco is going to open, get over it! Obviously the problem is it’s not Co op? who does not like Tesco? It’s for the people who live here, not for the tourists. All we want is a decent shop, lots of variety, fresh food, and not expensive. So get your act together it’s a sign??
OMG Tesco’s sign “urbanising” the town of Freshwater? No just the council getting hormone replacement therapy by refusing things that make no difference to the wealthy neighbor’s and giving all omnipresent-all-powerful permission to Greenfield site developments!
Yeacos should pull out of freshwater watch more moan when they can’t get there shopping
Some people will complain about anything. It’s shameful really.
Isn’t it possible for the Planning people and Tesco to get together and work things out before all the kerfuffle of having to reject it?