Tribunal told of sign

Press, 10 December 1983, Page 15

Tribunal told of sign

A third advertising panel may be added to the sky sign (above) on the roof of the Dominion building, in the north-west corner of Cathedral Square. Claude Neon Lights, New Zealand, Ltd, owns the structure and wants to fill the gap left by a Watties display in 1975 with a 10m by 4.5 m advertisement for the Australian Guarantee Corporation. The Christchurch City Council has questioned the company’s right to replace the sign after eight years and the issue was the subject of a Planning Tribunal hearing this week. Counsel for the City Council, Mrs H. Hodgeson, said the council’s objection was not so much to stop the addition of a third advertising panel but to ensure that it was lawful. The sky sign was erected

in 1962 with three panels, counsel for the company, Mr D. J. Clark, told the hearing. Although there had only been two panels since 1975, the structure had been continually used for advertising. By filling the gap the sky sign would be of similar character, intensity, and scale as it was before the District Scheme came into force in 1972. Mrs Hodgeson argued

against this last submission as the new advertisement would incorporate a digital clock and the company also planned to replace the existing Skellerup Industries panel with a new one incorporating a newscaster. The sky sign faced the Square and she submitted these additions would make it a more prominent feature than in the past. A Christchurch City Coun-

cil senior planner, Mr M. J. G. Garland, said that a third advertisement could have merits as it would conceal the unsightly scaffolding, but submitted that the proposal should be considered by way of a notified application enabling the City Council to consider it in terms of its District Scheme. Judge Skelton reserved decision.