An Bord Pleanala ruled-so why is the Ad sign still standing?

HOW is an illuminated rolling advertising sign still standing in O'Connor Square despite an An Bord Pleanala ruling that the sign which is attached to a phone kiosk requires planning permission?

The sign which is located on the western side of the square is free standing and displays

advertisements.

Offaly County Council originally said the sign and kiosk was a development but was exempted from seeking planning permission. An Bord Pleanala disagreed and described it as ''visual clutter'' which ''constitutes an obstacle to movement of pedestrians.Its inspector also said that the function of the telephone in O'Connor Square was ''simply a device to justify the advertising sign rather than the reverse.'' It's understood the structure was removed late last year but it has since reappeared.

Former town planner Fergal McCabe who made the appeal said, ''O’Connor Square is recognised as Tullamore’s principal civic space and contains the greatest concentration of protected structures in the town, including its oldest structure (1743) and its iconic Market House.''

He contended that ''despite the architectural and historical significance of O’Connor Square the advice of the County Conservation Officer was not sought'' and no proposal for the inclusion of digital signs was part of the public consultation for the Tullamore Street Enhancement Scheme, on foot of which the part pedestrianisation of the Square was carried out.

Local authorities throughout the country are now seeking to curtail these signs as they often obstruct pavements. An Bord Pleanala has refused a number of applications around the country.

Chair of Tullamore Tidy Towns Committee, Councillor Shane Murray, agrees with An Bord Pleanala. He said the sign and a lot of other signs around the town could be removed. ''The square is better without anything in it, even cars for that matter. I think we all got it wrong when re-doing the square. At the time I took the same view as the traders, but it took Covid to realise how important the square is to the towns people,'' he said.

Cllr Murray was also critical of the large number of signs on approach roads into the town, especially the Portarlington Road. ''They have all been highlighted in Tidy Towns' reports, that the signange is out of kilter with the rest of the town. People put up the signs and look for forgiveness after,'' he said.

We have contacted Offaly County Council for comment.