M6 hoarding plan pulled
Thursday 28th May 2009, 9:58AM BST.
Plans for a controversial advertising hoarding next to the M6 at Wednesbury have been pulled.
Opus Land had applied to build the giant hoarding, to be known as the Sandwell Gateway, on land at St Paul’s Road, with a decision set to be made at a meeting of Sandwell’s planning committee last night.
Initial plans were entered last year, but scaled down after concerns were raised about its size.
A revised application for a structure measuring 279ft by 82ft at a height of 135ft above ground level was then submitted but has now been pulled by the developer.
Both police and the Highways Agency objected, saying the hoarding could cause a distraction to motorists and the council had also received a 1,000 signature petition objecting to it. Officers had recommended it be refused. Opus Land was unavailable for comment.
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Excellent news.
Trying to sneak this in under the guise that it was “public art” is to discredit all other public art, and an insult to the intelligence of everyone else.
The paradox between an advert needing to attract people’s attention and yet claims that it wouldn’t distract drivers’ attentions seems to be lost on these developers.
Why are businesses so keen to spend millions on advertising if it doesn’t distract car drivers?
There are so many arguments against proposals such as this, it beggars belief as to how developers can be so cynical, short-sighted and greedy.
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Typical NIMBY attitude of the folks of St Pauls Road. This would have brought thousands of jobs into the area which will now go elsewhere. Shame on you Sandwell council.
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Now Now Trevor Lloyd Baker, do you live on cloud nine? May have bought some jobs but not for Wednesbury people… This did not only affect St Pauls Road so get your facts right, were you going to have to look at it, was it going to light your bedroom and lounge up at night, doubt it, I agree fully with Connor, It would be a distraction so you obviously have not done all your homework and where were the thousands of jobs going to be? or maybe is it because you yourself are going to lose out? I wonder !!!!!!! Just glad it has been pulled but will have to watch this space as they will perhaps try and sneak it in a bit further down..
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Now Now Trevor, sounds like sour grapes to me, did you really think this would create jobs for Wednesbury folk, get real.. No shame on Sanw=dwell Council, yes for the Public, but not this one, were going to get your house lit up, doubt it…… but watch this space bet they try again a bit further down sprat to catch a mackerel, wait and see but just hope everone objects again.
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