A GOVERNMENT inspector has judged that an "unduly dominant" digital sign on the side of a building needs to be taken down.

Last year Outdoor Media applied to Bradford Council to modernise the sign on the side of a Greggs branch, 228 Sticker Lane, replacing it with a digital sign lit by LED lighting.

The council refused the application, saying the new sign would be an "incongruous" feature on a busy road, and that there was no evidence that planning permission had ever been granted for the original sign.

Outdoor Media lodged an appeal against the decision with the government planning inspectorate.

But Inspector Jillian Rann sided with the council, rejecting the appeal.

Her judgement points out that the new sign has already been installed, despite permission being refused.

She said: "Its overall area would be considerably larger than other signs in the vicinity and, with the exception of the frame, the whole of this area would be illuminated by LEDs. The advertisement would be incongruous and discordant even in an area with a considerable amount of existing signage.

"Due to its size, its elevated position, and its fully illuminated design, it would appear as a disproportionate and unduly dominant feature on the existing building, and would have a significant exposure in the wider street scene when approaching this side of the building along Sticker Lane."