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Brewing and pubs giant Greene King pleaded guilty today (11th August) to failing to take down an inappropriate sign from one its historic pubs. It was fined £250 plus £340 costs at Bury Magistrates’ Court as a result.
The Greene King-owned Bull Hotel in Long Melford is a Grade II* Listed Building lying within the village’s Conservation Area. An illuminated box sign advertising an AA star rating was attached to the building without Listed Building Consent. Babergh’s Enforcement Team concluded this sign detracted from the special architectural character of the sixteenth century building and issued a Listed Building Enforcement Notice requiring its removal. This Notice was challenged by Greene King who appealed.
The Inspector looking into the case found that the artlessness of the lettering, the sub-division of the colours within the sign and the shape of the sign detracted from the timber background on which it was fixed and as a result dismissed the Appeal.
When Greene King still failed to remove the sign Babergh had no alternative other than to proceed in today’s hearing at the Magistrates’ Courts.
Paul Spens, Babergh’s Enforcement Officer was pleased with the outcome. “This shows that Babergh will always take action against inappropriate alterations to Listed Buildings, regardless of who owns the property”.
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