Southend, UK, arcade operator John Remblance is fighting local planners over signage at his seafront Circus Circus arcade and at his ice cream parlour Scoops 37.
Having erected the lighted signs, the council is refusing retrospective planning permission on the grounds that the signs are inappropriate, obscure the views of the seafront, overscaled and inadequately constructed.
Remblance has pointed out that in both instances the venues are located alongside other arcades that have bright and colourful lights. He has launched an appeal against the council’s refusal to grant his application.
Other operators in the resort are reported in the Mail Online as supporting Remblance for investing in the town. Martin Richardson of the neighbouring Happidrome Arcade is quoted as saying that the lights "brightened up" the town.
Remblance’s Star Amusements is quoted in the Southend Echo saying: “We bought the property with the sole intention of providing a family offer and to add something more suited to the area by way of an ice cream parlour (Scoops 37) to try and inject some regeneration, as opposed to all the tired shopfronts and hoardings that currently exist on the gateway to the seafront.
“Unfortunately we were not aware of the sensitivity of the area and in so doing have fallen foul of the system. We acknowledge now an application should have been submitted sooner; however, we submitted a retrospective application at the earliest opportunity when we were made aware of the situation.“
