Bowness fish and chips restaurant sign denied for blocking ‘iconic’ view of lake
Concerns were raised that the sign could spoil one of the first views visitors get of Windermere
Plans for a new sign at a luxury fish and chips restaurant have been denied over fears it would block an ‘iconic’ view of a lake.
The new Trenchers restaurant in Bowness opened its doors a month ago on July 11.
The high-end fish and chips brand, which has restaurants in Whitby and Whitley Bay, took over the former Boatmans Cafe at the junction of Rectory Road and the A592.
As part of the rebranding of the building, Trenchers asked for permission from the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) for a number of signs.
The LDNPA’s planning meeting made its decision on the application on Wednesday, August 5.
The proposals would have put two menu signs on the building, one standalone sign on the A592 side and another standalone on the end.
Committee members raised concern about the A592 sign. An existing sign advertising the coach park on Rectory Road stands against the building, but while the new sign for Trenchers would be near there, it would stand further from the building and therefore closer to the road.
Committee member Doug Rathbone raised concern that, in its new position, the sign would block views of Windermere.
He said: “I would say it is more detrimental than the existing sign. I’m not worried about the number of signs, I don’t think there are too many there, it is the location of that specific sign that concerns me.”
Chairman Mark Kidd said, if coming down the hill, it is the ‘first view you have of the lake’ and asked whether the sign would be in the way.
But he did make the point that ‘it is Bowness, it is going to be busy’, with ‘lots of signs and things sticking out on the pavement’.
Richard Outhwaite asked whether the highways department had been consulted, raising concern about the sign on the end blocking the view of drivers.
The planning officer said they had been told that highways did not want to be consulted on every application, but were given guidelines to assess these risks themselves.
He said planners did not think the sign was obstructive, having consulted the guidance.
Tony Hills, the architect for the building, spoke on behalf of Trenchers.
He said: “I think their concern is it isn’t adequately signed, there is only one fascia sign, then there is the sign at the southern end and the sign at the northern end.
“The feedback is that people don’t know where they are, and maybe that is to be dealt with through advertising.”
He added: “It is a national award-winning business who want to come and be part of the Bowness community, we can’t deny them the ability to put adequate signage on their building to attract people there.”
Committee member Jackie Lancaster also raised concern about the sign by the A592 blocking the view of the lake.
A planning officer said that, with advertising applications, members are allowed to give split decisions, meaning they can accept part of it but deny another part of it.
Ms Lancaster proposed to accept all of the signage but the one by the A592 because of the concerns about the lake view.
Six members voted in favour of that split decision and it passed.