§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the difficulties of outdoor advertising contractors, in so far as the operation of the advertising Regulations has not yet produced agreement as to the interpretation of amenity and that an appeal with regard to a site at 470, Oldham Road, Rochdale, was dismissed by him notwithstanding the proximity of a cotton mill and evidence at the inquiry that there was no amenity in the immediate vicinity of the site or forming a background thereto; and what steps he proposes to take to ease the difficulties of the outdoor advertising industry with regard to such cases.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe Regulations provide that the suitability of a site for advertisements shall be determined, in the interests of amenity, in the light of the general characteristics of the locality. The general character of the neighbourhood around 470, Oldham Road, Rochdale, is primarily residential. I cannot agree that the hearing produced no evidence of amenity in the immediate vicinity of the site, and the presence of a cotton mill nearby, did not, in my opinion, justify my opposing the efforts of the Rochdale County Borough Council to do all they can to improve the appearance of this neighbourhood by removing a board on the gable end of a house. As regards the difficulties of the industry, these are shortly going to be discussed with my Department.