THE applicant behind a bid to install a digital advertising board in Otley has lodged an appeal against Leeds City Council’s decision to refuse the application.

Planning officers turned down the application for a digital billboard at 52 Westgate, Otley, back in June, saying it would “form a stark, incongruous and obtrusive addition” to the high street.

The application proposed removing one existing billboard on the site and converting the other to digital.

However, refusing consent for the digital advertising display, the chief planning officer for Leeds City Council said: “The local planning authority considers that the proposed internally-illuminated digital billboard, by reason of its size, illumination, rotating images, prominent location and close proximity to residential dwellings, would form a stark, incongruous and obtrusive addition, to the detriment of the character and appearance of the street scene, special character of the Conservation Area and residential amenity of the occupants of neighbouring dwellings.

“The local planning authority considers that the proposed internally-illuminated digital billboard, by reason of its size, illumination, rotating images and prominent location on a strategic transport route, in close proximity to a zebra crossing and committed highway scheme to provide a signal controlled junction with associated pedestrian crossings and infrastructure would result in driver and pedestrian distraction.”

The decision was a victory for environmental campaign group Otley 2030 who had organised a petition against the digital billboard application and local councillors who had also objected to the plan.
But now the applicant, Wildstone, owners of outdoor media infrastructure, has decided to appeal to a Planning Inspector against the decision.
A Wildstone spokesperson said this week: “Our application in Otley would actually halve the amount of advertising in the area, as well as modernising the site. 
“To minimise any disturbance caused by the new screens, they would operate at minimum brightness when it is dark and be turned off entirely between 10pm and 7am.
“We look forward to hearing the outcome of our appeal.”
Otley and Yeadon ward councillors Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay have expressed disappointment the applicant has decided to appeal against the refusal of planning permission.
Cllr Campbell said: “We felt the sign would be an issue for two main reasons, firstly because the sign would be a potential distraction to motorists and secondly because it would have a detrimental impact on residents who live opposite the proposed sign.”
“The developers seem to be claiming there are no residents affected,” said Cllr Lay, “but this is not true. We have written to the Planning Inspector expressing our concerns and that they will be accepted and the application refused.”
A spokesperson for Otley 2030 added: “Otley 2030 is clearly against this appeal. There should be no billboard there at all, never mind a digital one, because it’s completely out of keeping with the nature of the Conservation Area. 
“The developers main argument about the Piper Lane board already being allowed is not a defence because the public were never notified of it. It looks completely out of place and has caused significant distress to local people.”