LEADING LIGHTS AT COUNCIL TO RULE ON BRIGG APPLICATION TOMORROW

An application for planning permission in Brigg is about to be decided by a North Lincolnshire Council committee comprising elected councillors from across the district.
The vast majority of applications these days are decided by council officers and never reach the planning committee. But one relating to Horse Fair Paddock - North Lincolnshire Homes' grouped dwelling for pensioners - will be an exception.
The area's social landlord is seeking advertisement consent to retain one externally illuminated sign.
However, Brigg Town Council has lodged an objection.
If there's an objection from a town or parish council, or a parish meeting, it generally means the application will be placed before the planning committee for a decision to be reached.
A decision on this Brigg application will be made by the district planning authority when it meets at Scunthorpe Civic Centre, off Ashby Road, tomorrow (Wednesday, October 23), from 2pm.
North Lincolnshire Council planning staff are recommending that consent is given in this case.
The case officer's report prepared for councillors to consider before reaching a decision says:
The main issue in the determination of this application is whether the appearance
and illumination of the signage are acceptable given the close proximity of the site to
the conservation area.
The sign in question consists of individual letters with a chrome finish, spelling the name of
the building to aid in the identification of the complex when travelling along Barnard Avenue.
The applicants have identified that the sign is internally illuminated and that this illumination
is intermittent. 
However, following a site visit in the evening, it is evident that the sign is not
internally illuminated and that the illumination is static and not intermittent. The signs are
actually illuminated via lights located behind the letters, which point back towards the
building and illuminate the area of wall behind the signage. The signage is therefore
externally illuminated and the letters themselves do not glow. Due to the lighting being
directed back at the building from behind the signage it is relatively muted and does not
result in glare or light spillage, particularly as the area in front of the site is already well
illuminated via street lights. In addition to this the signage itself is well designed and does
not detract from the appearance of the building. For these reasons the signage is not
harmful to the character or appearance of the building or the surrounding area, nor does it
result in any light pollution or nuisance to neighbouring properties.
The council’s conservation officer has been consulted on the application and has raised no
concerns with regard to the impact of the signage on the adjacent conservation area. As
explained above the lighting is relatively muted and the signage is well designed so as not
to be obtrusive within the street scene. It is therefore considered that the signage does not
have a detrimental effect on the character or appearance of the conservation area.
Planning committee meetings are always open to interested members of the public.
Anyone wishing to attend is advised to ask the helpful council staff for a copy of the agenda which makes it much easier to follow proceedings as it contains full reports, and recommendations, about each application being considered.