A ‘campaign’ to keep a decorative van on the roof of a business premises in Largs is gathering speed after councillors decided to give it the proverbial ejector button.
The owner of Deli Il Cardo delicatessen is hoping to put the council decision in reverse gear, and has told the ‘News’ that he will be appealing the decision.
John Corrigan has said that he has had a lot of public backing. (continued P2)
to keep the van parked on top of his premises, and ‘it puts a smile on people’s faces’.
John, who believes his van on the roof has plenty of air miles left, said: “At a time when shops and businesses are closing, and there is little in the way of parking facilities in Largs, it is something different and makes people happy. Children like it - in fact, we put a Santa climbing into the back of it over Christmas, and people were pointing and laughing. What is wrong with it? It hasn’t caused any problems.
“How can big businesses like Morrison’s Supermarket have big massive 20 feet high signs describing everything including their opening times throughout the week. There are several businesses with signage away above eye level, all on the trunk road, so why should I get penalised? It doesn’t have any bells, whistles or flags. There isn’t a sign next to it and there is nothing which attracts your eye to it.
“It isn’t brightly coloured, or lit up, and not that noticeable, but it is quirky enough. There have been lots of positive comments on social media during the last week about keeping the van above the deli, and I didn’t see any negative concerns raised.
“We are going to object to their enforcement notice. It is a ridiculous decision and we have not broken the planning application rules and regulations in our view.”
The move to appeal the decision also gained support on the Largs News Facebook page, and was described by Glenn Alcock as ‘a cool piece of art’.
Jane Fisher said: “It is a poor decision. I can think of more things distracting to motorists in Largs than that..kids love it!”
Anita Kelly added: “God forbid a business is trying to have a bit of fun with their advertising.”
And Joe Collings stated: “That’s ridiculous! I am not too sure how it’s a distraction for drivers.”
The council’s planning advertisement definition is “Any word, letter, Model, sign, placard, board, notice, awning, blind, devise, or representation whether illuminated or not, in the nature of, and employed wholly or partially for the purpose of, advertisement, announcement or direction (excluding any such thing employed wholly as a memorial or as a railway signal), and includes any hoarding or similar structure or any balloon used or designed, or adapted for use and anything else used, or designed or adapted principally for use, for the display of advertisements” 
“The display of any advertisement is subject to a number of standard conditions to ensure that it is displayed with the agreement of the owner of the land, maintained in a reasonable and safe condition and sited so as not to obscure road signs.”