Issue - meetings

Advertising consent for display of flags at Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth.

Recommendation: that advertisement consent be granted subject to conditions.

The application was for advertising consent for display of flags at Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth.

The Planning Officer reported that since publication of the agenda one further objection had been received.  This had referred to the impact on heritage assets through visual clutter, which it was considered would pose highway and pedestrian risks.

The Planning Officer also reported that condition 2 should be amended to reflect that other flags may be erected via deemed consent by the Advertisement Regulations.

A member of the public spoke against the application.

Councillor Andrea Fraser spoke on the application.

Points raised by the speakers against the application included: the impact on visual amenity and harm to a prominent civic building located in the Rickmansworth Conservation Area; the effect of rotating a variety of flags rather than a stable display of civic flags would be cumulatively harmful; core civic flags already had deemed consent under the Advertisement Regulations; the application sought to promote a political agenda; and the display of certain flags would be divisive to the community.

The Committee’s discussions included the following:

·         A Committee Member commented that there did not appear to be reason for refusal on the grounds of visual amenity.

·         Another Committee Member commented that there had been longstanding issues in the Rickmansworth Conservation Area with regard to visual clutter and appearance.  If the application had related to shop front advertising rather than flags, then the colour schemes would likely have been deemed to be harmful to the Conservation Area.  The officer’s view that the flags would not be visually prominent was not accepted, and the Committee Member recommended that the application be refused on the grounds of harm to the Conservation Area and a lack of public benefit.

·         A Committee Member commented that many of the flags which were already flown under deemed consent were multi-coloured.  Refusal on the grounds of harm to visual amenity would appear inconsistent with the existing situation.

·         Another Committee Member expressed the view that flags which did not have deemed consent should be considered in the same way as advertisements.  If they did not preserve or enhance the Conservation Area, then permission should not be granted.

Councillor Smith moved, and Councillor King seconded, that the application be approved subject to conditions and amendment to condition 2 to refer to signs granted deemed consent by Advertisement Regulations.

On being out to the vote this was carried, the voting being 6 in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED: that the application be approved subject to conditions and amendment to condition 2 to refer to signs granted deemed consent by Advertisement Regulations.