‘Welcome to Portland’ sign bearing the name of the town’s Rotary Club has attracted the ire of the town council.

The sign, which was put up by Dorset Council, without planning consent, is said to be a distraction to motorists and the cause of ‘visual clutter’ according to town councillors.

But Dorset Council’s area planning committee have given the sign, at the Victoria Square roundabout, retrospective planning consent after local councillor Sue Cocking said she liked it.

Highways officers had also offered no objection to the proposal.

The sign displays the name and logo of the club and text that reads 'The Rotary Club of the Island & Royal Manor of Portland Welcomes you to Portland'.

A planning officer report to the Thursday area planning committee said that the sign did not add to the ‘cumulative negative impact’ and is not ‘over-dominant.’

Despite the town council objections Cllr Cocking told the committee: “I really like the sign…it really does look good,” confessing that she was likely to be ‘in trouble’ with Portland town councillors for her view.

The committee heard that roundabout also currently has advertising consent to display three other sponsorship signs, each 1016mm x 610mm.