Fears new sign could be distracting for drivers
PROPOSALS for a 9.6-metre-tall LED advertisement sign on the corner of the Dale Street entrance to Cabot Circus car park have been criticised by Bristol drivers.
Since the proposals were published on Gov.uk last month they have received more than 25 negative responses from Bristol residents.
Objections to the digital advert have been based around the safety of motorists and pedestrians in the area, with most saying that a big, illuminated sign would distract drivers and cause accidents.
Other complaints suggest that the new sign will spoil the amenity of the area and add light pollution, with Felicity Radford from Clifton saying: “This out of control consumerism is causing the serious environmental problems we now face.
“Infinite growth on a finite planet leads to disaster.”
In a response to the plans, Councillor Stephen Clark said: “The distracting nature of this enhanced form of advertising will mean that road safety is compromised for both drivers and pedestrians.
“This particular advertising space in this particular spot will be distracting and confusing and will create a safety hazard.”
The space is currently home to a similar-sized advertisement, but the new plans reveal an upgrade to a digital advertisement display.
The planned dimensions of the new, illuminated sign are to be 9.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 meters and will feature an image advertisement, which residents speculate will be a changing image.
One opposing Bedminster resident, Barney Smith says: “Drivers need to have all their wits about them especially if they are new to the city and/or coping with the U-turn taken by traffic coming from the North West to the South.
“There should be nothing at this point to distract them let alone an illuminated advert designed to do just that with frequently changing images.”
Another Bristol resident, Mark Brown, added: “This is a hugely busy junction at the end of the M32 motorway.
“Adding a digital screen with changing images (designed to draw the eye of motorists) to a four-lane traffic system would increase the likelihood of a road traffic accident.
“The National Planning Practice guidelines state that ‘the main types of advertisement which may cause danger to road users’ include ‘externally or internally illuminated signs... which because of their size or brightness... could distract road users.’”
Responses from the public as well as the original plans can be read online using the reference code 18/06267.