A CAR brand has been told it can’t put up a pylon sign outside its dealership because it would cause “demonstrable harm” to the area.

Ford had applied to put up the new sign, alongside another sign attached to the building and some electric charging point totems at its Lookers Ford site in Magdalen Street.

Colchester Council has approved the building sign and the charging point elements.

But it refused plans for a new pylon sign advertising the Transit Centre which would have been placed at the front of the site.

In its decision the council said it would be “clearly visible” from surrounding public viewpoints.

It added that it would also be close to an existing pylon sign on site.

The council said: “The addition of a further large pylon sign will result in the site having a cluttered appearance and the harmful cumulative impacts of the addition of a further pylon sign will result in demonstrable harm to the visual amenity of the area.

“The harm identified to the visual amenity of the area will also have a harmful and unjustified impact on the setting of listed 79 Magdalen Street.”

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