Mr Jackson said he and other councillors felt “embarrassed” having to explain why a simple sign could see residents end up in court.
He told The Journal: “I’m quite sure there is scope in the planning framework for the council to offer some leniency here. What this needs is just some common sense. Instead what we face is officialdom to the n-th degree. It seems that with some council officers the impact of their decisions is lost on them.”
He added: “It is up to the council to write its own planning framework and it is quite possible for us to have a level playing field for something as straightforward as signs.
“There are different rules on trunk roads, in areas where the Highways Agency has a say, but there is a lot we can do, or should do, to help out.
“I don’t think you see this problem across the rest of the region, Northumberland just seems to be particularly nitpicking. I can see why in some cases these rules would need to be enforced, but here we are in some cases talking about people’s jobs, and we just don’t seem to see common sense being used. We just feel embarrassed as councillors when cases like this come up.”
A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: “The chief executive has asked for a review and report on policies in relation to roadside signs.
“The council is committed to supporting local businesses, however we must consider carefully how signs look in the open countryside as well as the implications for road safety.”
SIGN OF THE TIMES
A VOLUNTEER-LED football club is the latest victim of the council’s purge on roadside advertising signs.
Rothbury Football Club has been told that it must remove a banner advertising a local caravan park after the sign was brought to the attention of Northumberland County Council by a member of the public.
The club was approached by the owner of nearby Riverside holiday park and asked if it would agree to attach a sign on a shed in the grounds of Armstrong Park – which Rothbury FC own – in return for a donation of £1,000 to the club.
The club happily accepted the offer, but they have since been contacted by an enforcement officer at the council saying the sign must be removed immediately as it defies Government advertising regulations.
Sandra Foggon, club secretary, said: "Since we have been told the sign has to come down we feel it’s not appropriate for us to keep the donation. There are many football clubs struggling in Northumberland and last year alone there were a few clubs that had to withdraw from various leagues – juniors and seniors – due to financial reasons.
"The club relies on donations and we are all volunteers who run it. "We think it’s disgusting especially the fact that it’s not doing anybody any harm."
The club thought the six-foot by four-foot sign wouldn’t need planning permission as it is on private land and wasn’t attached to a permanent structure. But they have been told that, because the sign is visible to the wider public outside of Armstrong Park, it needs specific consent or to be moved.
Andrew Warnes, managing director of Callaly Leisure Ltd which runs the caravan park, said: "We are in a recession, trying our hardest to make a business and stay afloat, which is difficult at the minute. We just want to keep the business going and contribute to the kids and local community who use the football club."
A county council spokeswoman said: "Signs require consent and anyone looking to erect them should check with the planning department for advice before doing so."
