AN APPEAL against the council's refusal to permit the retention of PVC banners on land at a farm has been decided on.

The council's planning department rejected a bid for four non-illuminated signs at Maypole Farm, on Gorsey Lane, Bold, in January this year.

Council planning officers stated the signs would  be "inappropriate" in the green belt.

They added that the retention of the advertisements "would result in a visually dominant addition to the junction of Gorsey Lane and Hall Lane and would be unsympathetic to its surroundings".

Applicant Julie Plant appealed against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

However, planning inspector F Rafiq dismissed the appeal and upheld the council's refusal.

A photograph of a sign in the initial planning application submitted to St Helens CouncilA photograph of a sign in the initial planning application submitted to St Helens Council (Image: St Helens Council Planning Portal)

In a report, the inspector said: "The council’s first reason for refusal refers to the proposal being inappropriate development in the green belt.

"The regulations however set out that the power to control advertisements may be exercised only in the interests of public safety and amenity. As such, the main issue in this case is the effect of the proposed advertisement on the amenity of the area".

It added: "The appeal proposal is situated on the corner of Gorsey Lane and Hall Lane and comprises of a number of PVC banner signs arranged in a V-shaped format.

"It is situated in an open countryside location that has a rural character and appearance. 

"The proposed banners are in a prominent corner location, adjacent to open areas of land which are bounded by hedges and open timber fencing.

"The proposed banners block views of these open areas and their PVC banner form are unsympathetic in the rural surroundings"

The report added: "Reference has been made to other businesses that have advertisements along Gorsey Lane.

"However, more immediately around the appeal proposal, there is limited signage such as street name and road safety signs.

"For the above reasons, I conclude that the proposed advertisement is harmful to the amenity of the area"