Historic pub told to remove blackboards from wall

A historic pub is being forced to take down two outdoor wooden menu boards because planning permission has not been granted.

Tenants Jude Lever and her partner Dave Palmer spent £200 on having the 4ft square blackboards made at the White Lion, in Delph, Oldham.

But Oldham Council told the pub's owners, Thwaites, they have to be removed and must seek planning permission.

Palmer told the Oldham Evening Chronicle​: "I'm livid. We are putting all our efforts in to trying to make a go of this and I couldn't believe it when the brewery told us that we'd have to take the signs down.

"I appreciate Delph is a lovely village and the White Lion is in a conservation area, but our signs don't cause any problems."

The couple claim other businesses in the area use signs to promote trade.

But Thwaites has vowed to work with the council to obtain planning permission for the signs.

Andrew Buchanan, Daniel Thwaites' director of pub operations, said: "We appreciate the White Lion is a listed building within a conservation area, and because of this, we intend to work with Oldham Council to obtain the necessary planning permission for the boards.

"In the meantime, we will ensure that our tenants comply with the current guidelines until this is granted.

"This is a fantastic pub, run by a couple who are doing a great job to increase their food and drink trade to the local community."

Cllr Mark Alcock of Oldham Council said the authority took its responsibility for safeguarding conservation areas "seriously" and "owners of listed buildings are required to follow the correct procedures, or enforcement action will be taken".

Oldham Council has hit the headlines recently for reviewing the licence of 21 of its town centre venues in a bid to reduce problems. The issue was also covered by BBC's Panorama programme.