Community notice board at Robins Lane, St Helens

What was proposed

The application sought consent for one non-illuminated community notice board, three metres high and 1.744 metres wide.

“This application seeks Advertisement Consent to display 1no. non-illuminated community notice board. The proposed free-standing sign would measure 3 metres in height, by 1.744 metres wide. The proposed sign will act as a community notice board and be made of powder-coated steel with perspex doors behind which community notices will be displayed. The notice board will be black and satin silver in colour.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The notice board would stand beside a grassed area with scattered trees, near crossroads and existing street furniture in a mixed commercial and residential area.

“The application site is positioned near to the crossroads with Robins Lane, Waterdale Crescent and Lancots Lane. The application site is positioned on the edge of a parcel of grassed area of land with scattered trees. The parcel of land is unallocated within the St Helens Local Plan. The site is positioned within a mixed area of commercial and residential units. Robins Lane is the main thoroughfare between Sutton Junction and the town centre.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended advertisement consent because the proposal would not harm amenity, the area’s character or highway safety.

“The notice board would not harm amenity in accordance with the requirements of Policy LPD08 of the St Helens Local Plan and the NPPF. This is because the proposal is in keeping with the character of the area in terms of its design and materials and would not result in any adverse negative impact for residents.”

“The proposed notice board would not harm the character of the area or give rise to any other unacceptable impacts on amenity or highway safety. The proposed development would therefore comply with the provisions of the St Helens Local Plan and the NPPF.”

Officer report

Consultation and representations

The highways advisor raised no objection, and no representations were received after neighbouring notifications and a site notice.

“Council’s Highways Advisor (24.03.2026) – No objection raised. The proposed notice board would have no highways implications.”

“This application has been advertised with neighbouring notification letters, and a site notice. No letters of representation have been received as a result of the public consultation.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Planning Officer - East presented the application, supported by a presentation showing the aerial view, block plan, photographs, plans and issues.

The committee’s decision

The committee granted advertisement consent subject to conditions covering maintenance, safety, display, highway protection and the approved plans.

“This consent shall be a period of five years. Any advertisement displayed in accordance with this consent shall be maintained in a clean and tidy condition, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Council as Local Planning Authority. Any land (including buildings) used for the display of advertisements in accordance with this consent shall be maintained in a clean and tidy condition, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Council as Local Planning Authority. 4.”

“No advertisement displayed in accordance with this consent shall be sited or displayed so as to obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any road traffic sign, railway signal or aid to navigation by water or air, or so as otherwise to render hazardous the use of any highway, railway, waterway or aerodrome. 8.”

Minutes