DEVELOPERS have been forced to take down a sign advertising a new housing development.

Harrison Hunt (Hallhill Dunbar) Ltd had put up a sign on Dunbar’s Spott Road to point customers to the new development.

However, East Lothian Council’s planning department refused retrospective planning permission and the sign has now been taken down.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “There will be occasions where developers seek to keep their sign up until they know the outcome of a planning appeal.

“However, in this case, given that Transport Scotland had advised us that the sign was a risk to road safety, we advised the developer that the sign should be removed as soon as possible.

“The sign has since been removed.”

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The council received two objections from members of the public regarding the sign, while Dunbar Community Council also objected.

Among the concerns raised were that the advertisement was “too large” and “distracts” drivers entering and exiting nearby Spott Roundabout on the A1.

Planners turned down the application, which can be appealed, on three grounds.

The report noted that the “prominent” and “isolated position” of the sign meant that it was “a dominant, intrusive and out-of-place advertisement display harmful to the amenity of the area”.

Planners also echoed that the sign was “an unnecessary distraction” to drivers and that it could have “an adverse impact on road safety at a location where driver attention and cognitive demand is higher”.

Finally, there were concerns that approving the advertising consent would “set an undesirable precedent”.