A REQUEST to use a 7ft high bright blue advertising sign outside a scheduled ancient monument and Grade II Listed building in Tavistock has been turned down, pending further investigations.

The sign has been requested by West Devon Borough Council on behalf of the Tourist Information Centre in Tavistock, which is situated in the town's historic Court Gate.

West Devon's tourism officer Nadine Trout told last week's meeting of Tavistock Town Council that the TIC's move to Court Gate from its previous location beneath the town hall had been successful. But she said there had been comments by the public, and members of the business community, that the new office was difficult to find, and its sign was not that visible.

Ms Trout said: 'What we are asking for are these flags, which are lightweight and portable — our staff would put them out on display as and when the tourist information office is open.

'The colour of them is in keeping with with the town council emblem, the heritage plaque and the police station colours.'

Cllr John Sellis said: 'I think it's hideous — it's in a historic area and this is totally out of keeping with the buildings around it.'

Cllr Michael Harper said: 'Didn't we have major problems about businesses putting signage out on the streets a few years ago? This is exactly the same.

'I am not particularly concerned about the design, but I am concerned that the whole of the town should be playing on a level playing field.'

Cllr Mandy Govier said: 'I am not sure how the enforcement officer would view this, considering he cleared up the proliferation of street signs in the town. I've also got concerns over the sturdiness of it. Personally, I think it looks cheap, tacky and a bit hideous — not a good advert for the tourist information centre.'

Cllr Govier also asked if the borough had consulted with Devon County Council, as it was the owner of part of Bedford Square, not the town council.

Cllr Debo Sellis said the area was historically sensitive — but the councils should work together to 'meet in the middle' regarding signage for the centre.

Cllr Harry Smith said the sign, 'just doesn't look right' — particularly bearing in mind the protracted negotiations the council had been through with the borough council regarding the suitability of advertising banners in the exactly the same area.

Cllr Anne Johnson said: 'I have a problem with people who have got vision impairment — we need to be very careful, as I think this could possibly be dangerous.'

But Cllr Caroline Leverett said she quite liked the sign: 'It's different and it's modern. I do have concerns of the size of the bag of ballast needed to keep it down on a windy day — people might trip over it — and the dogs that will be peeing against it.'

And Cllr Ashley Tossell said: 'I don't think there's a problem in terms of safety — they have these things at beaches and they are windy enough.'

Ms Trout said she had been advised by officers at West Devon that an A-frame advertising board would not be acceptable.

'I asked whether something like this would be, and I was told because it's signposting a public amenity, it could be deemed appropriate, as opposed to advertising a business, which wouldn't be.

Cllr Sue Bailey proposed a further meeting should take place between the town and borough council regarding the signage, before any decision was reached.