A controversial advertising hoarding which would be situated next to the M6 is set to be refused by Sandwell planners at a meeting this week.

Developers Opus Land want to build the giant hoarding, which is due to be called Sandwell Gateway, alongside the M6 at Wednesbury. However, a report to Sandwell Council’s planning committee on Wednesday recommends the application is refused on the grounds of detriment to amenity and public safety. The initial plans were entered last year.

The application caused controversy because of the scale of the hoarding, but revised plans for a scaled-down advertising hoarding have since been submitted.

The structure would measure 279ft by 82ft at a height of 135ft above ground level.

The report, written by Mr John Dadd, states four councillors have objected to proposals and a petition signed by nearly 1,000 people has been handed in.

The Central Motorway Police Group has objected on the grounds that the section of motorway between junctions 8 and 9 is extremely busy with M5 and M6 traffic merging.

The Highways Agency has also sent a detailed letter of objection saying the stretch of the motorway is hazardous and that the advertisement is very deliberately designed to attract the attention of motorway users and would represent a significant source of distraction to driver.

The report adds that it would be clearly visible to residential streets, impacting on the amenity of the area and would “stand out as an unduly intrusive advertising feature”.

Wednesbury Councillor Bill Archer who has objected to the plans, said: “I can’t see how it will get through. The people around here will be over the moon about it because they thought it will get through.

“Whether they can appeal further I just don’t know.

“But at this moment in time I’m opposed to it and I don’t think it’s got much hope.

“The problem with it is the size of it.

“I think it will be a distraction, a lot of people will be looking at it and who knows what will happen.

“It’s in the wrong place.”