Agenda item

Angus Mcphee, representative from West Coker Parish Council addressed the committee and asked that members reconsider the re-location of the gateway sign at West Coker Road.  He explained they are very keen to re-locate the sign on or close to its historical parish boundary and confirmed the Parish Council would pay for the re-location.

The Neighbourhood Development Officer presented the agenda report and with the aid of a power point presentation sought members views on the approval of either option 1 or option 2 as outlined in the agenda report to replace six gateway signs at key vehicular entrance points to Yeovil. 

She also explained that at the Area South Committee in September members resolved that the sign along West Coker Road was considered to be located in an appropriate position and remain in the same place.  Subsequently West Coker Parish Council has approached SSDC and has offered to pay for the sign’s relocation.  She confirmed that there were no legal or practical reasons why the sign could not be moved and therefore asked that members re-consider the relocation of the sign based on the new information and importance of this matter to West Coker Parish Council. 

She proceeded to show members both options of the newly designed signs and explained that following consultation with County Highways the ‘Love Yeovil’ style font was unlikely to comply with the highway regulations and therefore would require slight alteration before final sign off.  Should members be minded to approve either signs she proposed to delegate the final sign off to the Area Chairman and Area Development Manager.

Following a short debate, members concluded that neither signs were of an acceptable design and that further work should be undertaken to improve the overall impact and appeal of the signs.  Members therefore suggested that the Neighbourhood Development Officer consider the comments made and seek member’s views before bringing an improved design back to Area South Committee as soon as possible.

Members also considered the re-location of the West Coker Road sign and although many considered it already to be located in an appropriate position others appreciated the request of the West Coker Parish Council and were content for the sign to be re-located.

It was then proposed and subsequently seconded that recommendation 1 be amended to read ‘ that members agree to the Neighbourhood Development Officer to seek member’s views and comments before bringing an improved design of the ‘Welcome to Yeovil’ gateway signs back to Area South Committee as soon as possible for member approval’. Members were content to agree recommendation 2 as detailed in the agenda report. On being put to the vote this was carried by 8 votes in favour and 6 against.

RESOLVED:

1.    That members agree to the Neighbourhood Development Officer to seek member’s views and comments before bringing an improved design of the ‘Welcome to Yeovil’  gateway signs back to Area South Committee as soon as possible for member approval’.

2.    That member’s agreed to the relocation of the West Coker sign based on new information received from, and the importance of this matter to, West Coker Parish Council. 

(voting: 8 in favour, 6 against, 0 abstentions)