13 October 2006 · Minister for Local Government and the Environment (on appeal)
Ballahowin Farm, Braaid Road, St. Marks, Ballasalla, Isle Of Man, IM9 3as
The proposal involved two small non-illuminated timber signs (originally 2ft x 2.6ft, painted white and black) positioned on roadside hedges either side of the A28 highway to indicate the entrance to Ballahowin Farm's tourist accommodation complex.
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The initial refusal by the Director of Planning and Building Control (delegated authority) was due to the signage introducing 'clutter in an otherwise natural landscape' on hedges along the A28 and ri…
Sign dimensions
The signs hereby approved shall not exceed 600mm wide x 450mm high.
Sign height limit
The topmost part of each sign shall not exceed 750mm above the top of the bank.
No telephone number
Any reference to a telephone number shall be omitted from the signs.
Do Not Oppose subject to the signs are not erected on the public highway verges
no planning objection; notes on working near cables/overhead lines (not planning-related)
Manx Electricity Authority raised no objection but noted underground cables/overhead lines requiring contact and safety compliance; Santon Commissioners objected to the signage as prohibited advertising; SPMC&E strongly objected due to lack of supporting information and countryside impact.
Key concern: signage constitutes prohibited advertising in countryside
Manx Electricity Authority
No ObjectionThere are Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area indicated in you Planning Application.; All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 & GS6.
Conditions requested: applicant must contact the Authority; Contact Anthony Kinrade or Ian Horsey, Operations and Maintenance Dept, Network Services, Manx Electricity Authority, (Tel. 687705) to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines; Contact the M.E.A. for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents, (Tel. 687766), before any work is carried out on site
Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and Environment
ObjectionNo supporting letter, therefore no case! We don't see how this application can be processed other than outright REFUSAL.; There must be several hundred (perhaps even a thousand?) holiday cottages... if each is to have a crop of advanced-direction signs, the whole countryside could be ruined. One name-board outside the gate would be reasonable, BUT NO MORE.
Santon Commissioners
ObjectionThe proposed sign includes a telephone number and it is thought that this is advertising and should therefore be prohibited.; The only sign that is acceptable is the small plate issued by DoTL Registration for the purpose to be applied to the property itself rather than a two foot six inch sign erected twice on a countryside road.
Santon Commissioners
Objectionthe Commissioners have nothing further to add to their continued objection to this application
Manx Electricity Authority
No ObjectionThere are Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area indicated in your Planning Application.; All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 & GS6.
Conditions requested: Contact Anthony Kinrade or Ian Horsey, Operations and Maintenance Dept, Network Services, Manx Electricity Authority, (Tel. 687705) to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines; Contact the M.E.A. for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents, (Tel. 687766), before any work is carried out on site
The original application for erection of two non-illuminated directional signs was refused due to potential clutter in the natural landscape and precedent for further signage. The appellant argued the signs were necessary for road safety given the difficult entrance location, high tourist traffic, and limited turning opportunities. The planning authority and Santon Commissioners opposed due to visual clutter, precedent, and advertising concerns. The inspector found the signs would significantly improve road safety on a bend with restricted visibility and accepted they would not set an undesirable precedent due to unique site circumstances. Visual impact was acknowledged but outweighed by safety benefits, leading to a recommendation for approval with conditions on dimensions, height, and removal of telephone number.
Precedent Value
This appeal sets a precedent that advance directional signs can be permitted in rural areas where road safety demonstrably outweighs visual harm, particularly for tourist facilities with high turning volumes on bends with poor visibility. Future applicants should gather site-specific traffic/safety evidence and propose minimal, modifiable designs.
Inspector: G Farrington
