99p Store sign is posh enough for Lymington! (From Bournemouth Echo)

99p Store sign is posh enough for Lymington!

5:11pm Thursday 4th March 2010 in

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A NEW Forest town “too posh for an Argos” has won a planning battle with 99p Stores which has now unveiled a more tasteful sign over its Lymington High Street shop.

Town councillor Ted Jearrad was the first to complain about the illuminated sign over the ex-Woolworth’s store when it was put in place last summer.

“As I approached it from St Thomas Street I was impressed by the improvement,” he said. “It was far less gaudy and it was a flat board which didn’t stand out as much and I thought the colouring was more subdued and better, and I liked the boat on the front. I took Cllr Freda Angelou for a second opinion and she agreed. She was pleasantly surprised.” He said the quality of the town’s mainly Georgian High Street is worth preserving.

New Forest District Council development control manager David Groom said enforcement action was taken against 99p Stores after a technical breach of planning because of the sign’s size and illumination.

The company held a design competition for a replacement, which was won by Jack Lawrence, a Brockenhurst College graphic design student.

Featuring a sailing boat and sea birds it reflects the spirit of Lymington.

The young designer is currently in New Zealand prior to going to university.

Mr Groom said: “It’s a nice design and by a local person and we’d anticipate the sign would not require advertising consent or planning permission. If they want to illuminate it in the future then they will need planning permission.”

More than 1,000 people signed a petition in favour of the original design.

Store co-owner Hussein Lalani said: “The complaint was the first time we have been asked to remove a sign.

“We feel the new frontage reflects the wonderful spirit of Lymington as well as keeping our stress on the quality products we sell at realistic prices the public can afford.”

Cost of the replacement was £12,000.