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© Roger Cornfoot

A sign of the times

31/07/10 - 0 comments

Once again proving to be out of touch with the people they supposedly represent, Exeter City Council have decided the sign on the front of Route 2 in Topsham is too big, despite local residents overwhelmingly saying it's fine.

The council's planning officers have objected because the sign goes "beyond the level of the building's sash windows" and have decided the sign is simply too big.

The owner of the eco-café* and cycle bar says after surveying nearly 1000 local residents, under 50 objected to the signage as it exists today, and that it would cost around £4000 to change.

The owner, Liz Hodges, says that if residents had said they objected to the signs she would be more than happy to have changed them, but as 96% of the respondents had been happy with things as they stand she understandably doesn't want to change it for the sake of bureaucracy.

An Exeter City Council spokesperson said: "Replacement signs should fit in the space between the top and bottom of the first floor windows on the respective elevations."

We can't help but notice the use of the word "should" in that statement. To us, this implies the rules are not hard and fast, and are open to interpretation and a bit of flexibility.

This is the same language that Devon County Council used back in 2007 when we pointed out the zebra crossing they installed on Cheeke Street contravened government guidelines. They responded saying they while they should follow the guidelines they were not obliged to.

This smacks of someone on the council being particularly petty, but having lost their appeal, Route 2 is left with no option but to change the sign at great expense by October.

Incidentally, if you visit the site on Google Street View you can still see the old Steam Packet signs on Monmouth Hill, one of which clearly projects above the top of the window frame, roughly the same height as the new sign. Apparently these weren't authorised either.

What do you think? Are the signs an eyesore or do they look great as they are? Pop over to their website and let them know.

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