§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the large advertising hoardings displayed along the north side of the Witham bypass on the A.12 trunk road are consistent with their policies for the protection of the countryside, in particular, the views expressed in the Department of the Environment's recent Quality in Town and Country initiative: and, if not, what steps they will take to have them removed.
Earl FerrersThe Government are determined to protect the countryside from inappropriate development, whilst encouraging quality and good design in the built environment through the quality initiative. We have put in place a system which enables local planning authorities to control the siting of advertising hoardings and which requires them to consider the impact of proposals on the appearance of the area and on public safety. Advice in our planning policy guidance note on outdoor advertisement control makes it clear that such advertising is out of place in the open countryside.
Decisions to allow hoardings on the edge of an industrial estate which borders the A.12 trunk road at Witham were properly arrived at by the local planning authority, Braintree District Council. The Council, who also own the site, will be reviewing the suitability of the hoardings next year.