Ben Duncan fights against bland corporate shop signs
1 September 2008
A councillor is campaining to preserve Kemp Town’s unique character by opposing a bid to erect a shop sign outside a chain store.Ben Duncan, Green Party councillor for Queen’s Park, has warned that a sign for the chemist chain ‘Boots’ outside the premises of the former Alliance Pharmacy in St George’s Road would be another step towards the area looking just like everywhere else.
“The Kemp Town area has a unique character, and this is achieved in large part thanks to its independent traders, local businesses and visually interesting environment,” he said.
“A sign advertising a chain store that appears in almost every shopping street in the country – and in at least five other locations in Brighton and Hove alone – can hardly be deemed to be ‘visually interesting’, a planning requirement in the conservation area.”
Cllr Duncan, who hopes to become Brighton Kemptown’s MP at the next election, added: “Boots’ takeover of the Alliance Pharmacy, is just another chapter in the story of ‘Clone Town Brighton’ – there’s nothing I can do about that.
“But I can seek to preserve the area’s unique character by arguing against chain stores’ intrusive attempts to advertise their presence with dull logos and visual clutter.
“Fortunately, members of the council’s planning committee seem minded to agree – leading them to reject a similar bid for an illuminated sign outside the controversial Starbucks café in St James’s Street.
Notes to editors:
Media only: contact Charlie Woodworth on: 01273 290 452.[ENDS]
