Cafe ordered to take down bright orange signs

In Leigh, Essex, a local cafe named 'Dāsh! ' has been ordered by the council to remove its bright orange signs. The cafe, which is located at a busy intersection, has a large orange sign above its entrance and a black awning that advertises its offerings, including 'Speciality coffee. Breakfast. Lunch. Gelato. Pastries. Cakes'. While the cafe attracts customers and has people enjoying their time outside, the Southend-on-Sea City Council believes that the vibrant colors of the signs are not suitable for the area. The council's development control committee unanimously decided that the signs must be taken down because they have negatively impacted the conservation area where the cafe is located. The cafe had installed the signs without obtaining the necessary planning permission, which is why the council is enforcing this action. They have given the cafe six months to comply with the order. The cafe had previously submitted applications to change its signs in December 2022 and July 2023, but both requests were denied. In February 2024, the cafe appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, but the appeal was also rejected. Richard Longstaff, a councillor from the Green Party, expressed his concerns about the cafe's location. He described it as being at a very busy junction, which serves as a focal point for the street scene. He mentioned that while he enjoys taking his daughter for ice cream at the cafe, the signs seem to obstruct the flow of people, especially at a busy zebra crossing. He noted that it is impractical to have people queuing for ice cream in such a crowded area. Longstaff compared the situation to 'Piccadilly Circus', emphasizing the need to maintain the character of the conservation area. He warned that if the council does not enforce these regulations, the area could gradually lose its unique charm. Carol Mulroney, a councillor from the Liberal Democrats, echoed Longstaff's sentiments, stating that the cafe is situated in a crucial part of the conservation area. She highlighted that the awnings make a significant difference to the overall appearance of the area. The cafe's previous planning applications included requests to install a new shopfront and to keep its existing metal shopfront and awnings, but these requests were also turned down. The council is committed to preserving the beauty of the area and ensuring that new signs do not detract from its character.