COUNCILLORS have objected to plans for an international pizza chain to put up an advertising pole in the town centre.

Domino's Pizza, which opened its doors at the former Cafe Royal site on Tannery Road in June, has applied to West Dorset District Council for permission to put up a 3m-high pole on the verge of the car park on Tannery Road, with the junction with West Street - to advertise the business.

The pole would also include an advertisement on top of the pole, bringing the total height to around 4.24m. The proposed advertising sign would be internally illuminated.

Members of Bridport Town Council's plans committee agreed to object to the application on grounds of it being harmful to the conversation area in close proximity to listed buildings and the impact on a residential area.

Cllr Dave Rickard said that high street businesses in the town did not have illuminated signs.

He said: "The key thing is given that placement, it qualifies as being in our main shopping street and we have considerable precedence of not having illuminated signs in our high street.

"West Dorset are aware of that. As far as I know, they have all been rejected in the past. I think we should object."

Leader of the council, Cllr Sarah Williams, said: "It is in a conservation area and it is fairly close to the buildings.

"It is going to totally dominate the street scene. I think we should object on the strongest terms."

Councillors also objected to an application from the business to put up external signs advertising the business. Domino's wants to install three fascia signs and two projecting signs.

Councillors also agreed to hold an extraordinary planning meeting on Monday, August 15 to discuss another application for the Domino's Pizza store. The company has applied retrospectively to revise the approved plans to allow the replacement of the sloping shopfront with a new aluminium shopfront. The work has already been completed.

In a planning document for the revised application, Fergus Sykes, senior planner for Pegasus, agent for Domino’s, said: “Once works started it was established that the new frames could not be accommodated at the angle required to retain the sloping windows as there would be the potential for a significant risk to the health and safety of passers-by and users of the car park.

“A notice was received on June 28 from council officers noting that the shopfront had not been built out as approved. Following this, Pegasus Group has been instructed to regularise the situation on site.”

Planners must receive comments by August 20. The town council is urging people who comment on the proposals to also send comments to Bridport Town Council. Residents can have their say online at dorsetforyou.com