A GOVERNMENT inspector has sided with Bradford Council over a decision to block an LED billboard at the side of a Keighley house.

Insite Poster Properties' application to replace a billboard on the side of 114 Marlborough Street with a larger, LED lit advertising board was refused by Council planning officers in April, with the company told the new sign would create a "incongruous and discordant feature" in the area.

The existing billboard poster is at the side of a row of terraced houses, facing Bradford Road, and just a short distance from Keighley Fire Station.

The company wanted to replace it with a six metre by three metre illuminated sign.

But the company lodged an appeal with the government against that decision, and that appeal has now been refused.

Planning inspector Mark Brooker said: "In support of the appeal, the appellant has drawn my attention to the Planning Practice Guidance which indicates that in industrial or commercial areas a large advertisement would be permitted where it would not adversely affect the visual amenity of the neighbourhood of the site. However, as detailed previously I have found that the immediate surroundings of the appeal site are residential in character and the wider area is a mixture of uses.

" I find that the appeal proposal would have a significant detrimental impact on the amenity of the area. As such, the proposal would not be an example of the type of advertisement considered to be acceptable."