THE plug has finally been pulled on plans for illuminated advertisements on multi-storey towers, after Hounslow Council voted last week.
Proposals for giant signs on top of Boulton House in Green Dragon Lane , Brentford have been contentious ever since councillors approved them last June despite the objections of officers and residents.
Councillors thought the signs would bring in money for residents in the Brentford Towers estate, although a figure was never provided. Kew Gardens then launched a legal challenge in September 2012 against the decision as they feared Unesco could withdraw its world heritage listing due to the impact the signs would have on the gardens.
The episode took an unusual twist when Hounslow Council decided in October to back the Royal Botanic Gardens' Judical Review in the High Court where judges quashed the decision, meaning the planning application had to be reconsidered by the council.
But, in last Thursday's (April 11) council planning meeting, councillors decided to reject the plans once and for all.
Theo Dennison, chairman of Hounslow's planning committee, said: "I'm very glad to see that this issue has been resolved and people have realised we don't want to be seeing more adverts in residential areas as it does affect those who live there. The community were happy to see this refused."
Councillor Liz Mammatt, Hounslow's Conservative deputy group leader said Labour has finally done a U-turn and bowed to the professionals. She said: "Labour must display less arrogance, heed the professionals and local people and cease to waste council tax-payers money on such costly legal and administrative bungled decisions."
