AN APPLICATION for two new billboards on Gay Lane in Otley has been withdrawn after hundreds of local people signed a petition against it.

And a sign on Bradford Road which was also targeted in the petition has been switched off for now .

The latest developments in the fight against the controversial billboards were revealed by Otley's MP Alex Sobel in a letter to residents.

Mr Sobel, who organised a petition, writes: "Firstly, we have had correspondence from Wildstone, the owners of the approved billboard:

"They would like to apologise to residents for the issues caused by the technical problems with this advertisement. They agree it is unacceptable and do not intend to turn on the advertisement until the issues have been fully investigated and resolved.

"They advise that after speaking with their technical team, and their tenant, that the issue was caused by new content management software being used by the tenant combined with a hardware issue which caused the advertisement to not correct the brightness based on the time of day or ambient brightness. This was compounded by the tenant switching on content before all relevant pre-operation tests having been completed and the site having been given the green light to go live.

"They do not yet know when the advertisement will be switched back on as this will be dependent on the resolution of the above-mentioned issues."

The letter adds: "It is their intention that when the advertisement is switched back on that it will be limited to a maximum brightness of 60 cd/sqm at night. It is also intended that a curfew will be imposed from 21.00 to 06.00 when the advertisement will be switched off. This is not a requirement of the advertisement consent but in order to seek to address the concerns of residents.

"They agree that a site visit would be helpful to discuss the concerns that have been raised and the mitigation measures outlined above and we will be arranging this in due course."

In his letter Mr Sobel says: "With regard to the application from Tate Oil, we have been advised that this application has been withdrawn in light of the objections received.

"They will be reviewing the comments in the coming weeks and revising the scheme accordingly and keeping my office updated. Again, they are keen to meet on site and we will be arranging this soon."

Mr Sobel, who has had discussion with both owners, said: "It is encouraging that both parties have been willing to listen to and take on board the concerns of residents. I am especially pleased that the owners of the board on Bradford Road are willing to go beyond the recommendations of the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP) guidance on the brightness of the board at night and to turning the board off at night. I am also pleased that the planning application has been withdraw on Gay Lane.

"Whilst the news at this stage is encouraging, I still believe the only way to stop the intrusion of these billboards in our communities is by changes to the legal framework for which these decisions are made.

"I will be meeting with both parties soon and will provide further updates at that time.”

Alan Smith, whose home is close to the Bradford Road billboard said: “I am, to put it politely, confused about why the council’s conservation team and highways team submitted concerns about the application for the smaller Gay Lane digital billboards but not the Bradford Road one.

"It will be less bad for us living very nearby if it’s less bright and is switched off at 9pm. Hopefully that will deal with the light nuisance issue - we’ll see when it’s turned back on. But it won’t deal with the issue that it looks totally out of place on a street of old stone terraces on the entrance to a historic Yorkshire market town, or the highways risk lots of us think it creates. Those issues will only be addressed when it’s taken down.”