Be careful with your external advertising
A PUB chain has been forced to fork out more than £2,500 for leaving up an advertising board without permission in Chester.
The sign outside the Toby Carvery, Hoole Village, Chester, read: “Great Value, Single Course Carvery £5.00.”
Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston magistrates heard the company which runs the pub, Mitchells and Butlers, was being prosecuted by Chester City Council because advertisement consent had not been granted by the local authority.
Prosecuting on behalf of the city council, Vanessa Whiting told the court that in December, 2007 there were two signs outside the Warrington Road pub.
The “Great Value, Single Course Carvery £5.00″ was at the front of the pub as well as another sign near the roundabout which said: “Three nights for the price of two at the Innkeepers Lodge.”
Mrs Whiting said: “The company made an application for advertisement consent in December but this was refused in January, 2008.”
Senior planning enforcement officer Leslie Smith asked the pub’s owners to remove both signs within 14 days but a visit to the site on February 19 revealed the signs were still there.
The council wrote to the company and by March 5 it had removed the sign for the innkeepers lodge.
Mrs Whiting added: “But on April 28 the other sign was still there.”
Mitchells and Butlers pleaded guilty to the offence of displaying an advertisement without the consent of the council on April 28.
The company had no legal representation in court and was later unavailable for comment.
Magistrates chairman Rosemary Skilton said: “The aggravating factor is the potential profit made from the sign.”
Mrs Skilton issued the company with a fine of £1,650 with costs of £870, which the company must pay within 28 days.
After the hearing a city council spokesman explained the reason why the advertisement consent was not given.
He said: “Both signs were considered prejudicial to the visual amenity and would have a detrimental impact on the openness and character of the locality.
“There is enough signage for the pub already.”
Originally posted 2008-08-28 08:35:21.
