Pub boss is forced to take down billboard (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Pub boss is forced to take down billboard

11:19am Thursday 9th August 2012 in News

COUNCIL bosses have called “time” on a 30ft high advertising billboard on the gable wall of a Bury pub — after 20 years.

They have served an enforcement order for the removal of the hoarding, much to the dismay of local businessman Mr Bohdan Matwijczuk who owns the lease of the Old Crow pub in Bell Lane.

The loss of the billboard, which had been sited at the popular pub for two decades, will cost him £1,200 a year in lost rental.

In a report, an environment and development services department spokesman said: “The billboard had been located on the side gable of the public house and had been there for many years.

“It was too large for the gable and extended beyond the roof plane of the building. It looked very odd when viewed with the building and, because of its poor siting and inappropriate size, it had a severely detrimental impact on the character of the building and the area. We had also received complaints from the public.”

Mr Matwijczuk and leading outdoor advertising company JCDecaux, lost an appeal against the ruling and have been forced to remove the billboard.

Mr Matwijczuk said: “I bought the lease of the Old Crow in 2003 which included the hoarding and had rented it out to JCDecaux. I also have the lease of the nearby Spotted Cow which has two hoardings which haven’t been affected. So, why did they choose the one at the Old Crow?

“The council sent me a notice at the end of last year which came out of the blue. Their view was that the hoarding was out of line with the local environment. I questioned as to why it was deemed to be like that, considering the hoarding had been on the gable wall for 20 years. I admit it did jut out a bit. But if it isn’t broken, then don’t fix it.

“The council said they’d had complaints about it. But I can’t understand that as we’ve received no complaints whatsoever from anyone. The removal of the hoarding means I will lose £1,200 a year in rental income.”