'Common sense has gone out of the window' says local MP following planners ruling

Friday, 29 August 2025 18:23

By Chris Young, Local Democracy Reporter & Nick Babb, Your Media

The advertising signs at Silsden Sports Club

A retrospective application to keep 15 advertising signs on a Green Belt site in Silsden has been refused by Bradford Council.

The two-metre advertising boards have been installed at Silsden Sports Club, at the edge of Keighley Road, and the retrospective advertising consent application was submitted earlier this Summer. It argued that the signs had been in place for more than 12 years.

Three people had objected to the application, with one describing the signs as “an eyesore”.

Refusing the application, planning officers pointed out it was made after the Council initiated enforcement action.

Officers said:

“The applicant contends that the signage has been in place for over 12 years, however this is disputed by both objectors and publicly accessible evidence gained by the Planning Service.

“Furthermore, there is no history of any authorised advertisements on the site.

“The hoardings are situated on poles above the boundary wall of the sports club in a very prominent position on the side of a busy road in to Silsden.

“The number of signs and the combined scale appear out of keeping with the area in which they are displayed.

“Their excessive number cumulatively exacerbates this harm. Consequently, in terms of amenity, the proposed advertisements are too numerous and create a cluttered appearance on the boundary of the site."

Commenting on his Facebook page, Silsden's MP Robbie Moore said:

"Common sense has gone out of the window again - Bradford Council?

"Silsden AFC have been forced to take down pitchside boards advertising local businesses (which have been in place for TWELVE YEARS) after Bradford Council ruled they were “out of keeping with the area they are displayed” and too “cluttered”

"Are you having a laugh? The “area they are displayed” is the football club itself

"I was down at the weekend to watch them play and know these boards bring in a vital stream of revenue for a club which is entirely voluntary and community-run.

"The Council seem perfectly happy to let housing developers plaster massive advertising hoardings in Silsden and elsewhere, but its a no to a grassroots football club promoting local businesses."

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