Planning controversy of new William Brown Jr. sign

Folkestone Town Council have voiced concerns in planning documents.  Oliver Leader de Saxe reports.

Transcript

00:0032 flats being created right in the heart of Folkestone, but not without a sign of controversy.

00:07Boarded up for the past year, the Queen's House is currently being converted

00:12into affordable accommodation by William Brown Senior,

00:17in memory of his son who died after being hit by a car in 2023.

00:22But a planning application for an illuminated sign on the building

00:26has faced backlash from the neighbouring town council,

00:30and it's all to do with this picture of William Brown Junior.

00:56In planning documents, Folkestone Town Council state that they support the illuminated sign

01:18and the commemoration in the naming of the building,

01:21but feel the inclusion of the photograph, however lovely an image it is,

01:26doesn't strike the civic tone needed.

01:30The town council also highlighted that the illumination should be on a timer

01:35to be turned off overnight for the sake of neighbours and occupants.

01:40But while William Brown Senior has no issue with keeping the illumination to a minimum,

01:46he's been left baffled by the other objections.

01:49There's no one really spoken up and said that they're finding it offensive

01:55or they don't like it in particular,

01:57and we've gone through all the necessary due process to get the planning permission to do this.

02:03So I don't really understand why the town council would stand up and go,

02:07do you know what, no, you're allowed the name, but you're not having an image.

02:12The sign may already be up, but a decision for whether this can remain in place

02:18now rests with folks still in Hithe District Council.

02:22Oliver, Leader of the Saks for KMTV.