Real Foods on Broughton Street have been taken aback by Council enforcement notices demanding that they remove all signage from the front of their Category A-listed building.
The Planning Department alleges that unauthorised works have been carried out (without listed building consent) to the detriment of the premises at No. 37.
The first notice applies to 'the large fascia level sign, green in colour, with lettering in white and black reading "realFOODS" and incorporating a company logo, attached to the band course on the west facing façade and illuminated by a trough light, both extending the entire width of the premises ... Without the express consent of the Council'.
A second notice repeats these details, but then demands the removal of another sign above the front door, a small green sign beside the door listing opening times, a projecting hanging sign, and an advertisement attached to the railings.
As if that were not enough, it continues with a requirement to repaint the main entrance door, 3 basement doors, and 2 further doors fronting onto Broughton Street Lane. All these are to be returned to the colour they were 'immediately prior to the unauthorised works'.
The notices, dated 6 September, gave the popular retailer 2 months to comply. However, this period has been extended now that Real Foods have appealed the case to Scottish Ministers.
Real Foods are baffled since much of the signage has been in place for 40 years, and the 'hanging projecting sign' even longer. It has never been queried before, nor has anyone from the Council at any stage suggested they apply for retrospective permission.
Managers from the shop have sought legal opinion and feel they have a strong case. They are also soliciting the support of customers and neighbours through petitions in the shop itself and online.
On Real Foods's website, the case is argued that: 'Without conventional, large shop windows Real Foods has to use other means to attract customers into its shop ... In the increasingly bleak economic landscape, small, independent local shops are constantly under threat. Removing all our signs can only increase that threat to Real Foods, its 50 local employees and its many local suppliers, some of which are charities providing meaningful employment to people with special needs'.
The online petition has so far attracted 962 signatures.
Supporters are also urged to make their opinions known to: Mark Lazarowicz, MP; Mark Biagi, MSP;
and Councillors Alasdair Rankin, Charles Dundas and Joanna Mowat.
In Spurtle's opinion, the Council move is overzealous. We like the bright, characterful appearance of the façade and do not recognise the detriment to which Planners refer.
But what do you think? Email us your views for publication to: spurtle@hotmail.co.uk
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Reactions by email
Surely the council have better things to do with their time? This is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard for a while. The signage is not only practical, both for the company and its customers, but it is also very attractive in my opinion. Listed or not, the building would be very dull without it. Do we really pay our council tax for shenanigans like this? Jacqui du Rocher
Typically crass behaviour from a Council which has presided over (and seemingly encouraged) the steady decline and homogenisation of the city's streetscape – not least the insidious spread of bland charity shops and garish 'local' branches of national supermarket chains. Do these idiots really have nothing better to do with out time and money? D.J. Young
Inclined to agree that the large fascia does nothing to enhance the building. If Real Foods had applied for listed building consent it is likely the AHSS would have objected to the fascia but not the hanging sign. If the signage of opening times has resulted in new fixings to the ashlar we would have also had concerns that it may result in damage, the fixings should be non ferrous and even then were Real Foods to relocate and the sign removed, the holes remain and weaken the integrity of the stone. The colour of the doors is reversible but CEC does have guidelines on paintwork in the New Town. Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland
[Thanks to AHSS, who this morning – 7.11.11 – sent us City of Edinburgh Council planning guidance on commercial frontages and colour of buildings. See pdfs at foot of this page.]
I'm disturbed by CEC's attack on Real Foods.
Real Foods is a really important shop in our area - one of the biggest
apart from the supermarkets. It's central to Broughton Street as a
local High Street.
People come to Broughton Street to go to Real Foods -it needs to be
Easy to find.
The signs are attractive and in no way clash with the aesthetic of the
building. Nor are they going to cause any long term damage.
The Planning Department need to listen to the local population on this
one.
Yours sincerely,
Ella Taylor-Smith
[Bellevue]
Thank you for your email sent to Cllr Alasdair Rankin's office. I can
now confirm that I have contacted the Planning Department and asked for
a response to be issued explaining the reasoning behind the decision to
enforce the removal of the sign outside Real Foods at Broughton Street.
We have had a number of complaints regarding this issue and we will make sure we get back to you as soon as we get a response.
In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me or Cllr Rankin
directly if we can assist you further in this or any other matter.
Kind regards,
Ania B. Lewandowska
(Councillors' Assistant to SNP Group)