A Stockport woman has compared living near a lit-up sign to 'torture', saying it illuminates her home like a cinema. Angela Birch and her partner Ben Wright have criticised Stockport Council and a local media company over an illuminated sign on Reddish Road near the area's Morrisons. She said the situation is affecting her life and health.
Planning permission and conditions
Planning permission for the sign was approved in December 2024, with a condition that the board only displayed static text and images. Limits were also placed on its brightness, and highways officers did not believe 'the new advertisement would result in driver distraction'.
In response, Crystal Clear Media said they have done everything they could to resolve the situation and turn the sign off overnight. CEO Adam Griffiths said they take their responsibilities seriously, and Stockport Council had identified no issues requiring further action.
Resident concerns
Angela Birch said she first noticed the plans for an electronic sign when visiting the nearby Morrisons and thought 'what is that about'. She later contacted the council and was told where she lives was too far away to be consulted. Councils generally publicise planning applications by notifying adjoining neighbours directly by letter, but site notices can also be displayed in some cases. People further away are often not notified unless the application's size could affect a wider area, though they can still make representations.
Even before the application was submitted, Angela said: "My concern was the glare, the brightness. That was nine months before and it went ahead. They installed it. It's been absolutely horrendous." As a result of the light, she said she has to keep her curtains closed, describing the situation as 'torture' and telling the Manchester Evening News: "It's illuminated my house like I live in an indoor cinema."
Impact on drivers and neighbours
As well as concerns about the brightness, Angela said she was worried adverts telling people to honk their horn or scan QR codes could be a distraction for drivers. When people beeped their horn, she said: "It was making people jump, it was making people feel they had done something wrong." She said the situation had affected her health as well as her relationship.
Her partner Ben Wright said he now avoids staying at the house as a result, adding: "It's like there's no escape." He said: "The sign is directly facing the drivers. There's no getting away from it. I have spoken to some drivers and they have got to cover their eyes when they have crossed the bridge. They wonder what it is going to be like with the darker nights."
One of their neighbours, who asked to stay anonymous, said: "The advertising board is extremely bright. Not only so but it's irregular flickering and changing of image and brightness acts as a clear distraction often when I'm attempting to park my car near to what is already a dangerous junction. Despite contacting the council on the matter, I have received no acknowledgement of my concerns."
Company and council response
Crystal Clear Media CEO Adam Griffiths said: "Crystal Clear Media takes its responsibilities as an out-of-home media owner seriously and follows the required planning and installation procedures when developing new sites. During the development of our Reddish Road screen, we worked closely with Stockport Council to ensure the appropriate processes were followed, including notifying residents within the required consultation area. Since concerns were first raised, we have been in correspondence with the resident and have sought to address any valid issues. The screen is switched off between 10pm and 7am and uses light-monitoring technology to automatically adjust brightness in response to changing conditions."
He added: "Following the initial complaint, Stockport Council also visited the site to assess its impact on the surrounding area, with no issues requiring further action identified. We remain committed to operating our sites responsibly, working constructively with Stockport Council and maintaining positive relationships with the businesses and communities in which we operate. As part of this commitment, our Reddish Road and A6 Buxton Road screens have been used free of charge over the past two months to celebrate local Community Heroes doing exceptional work across Stockport."
Stockport Council confirmed it is aware of concerns about the advertising board, and officers have visited the site on a number of occasions. During those inspections, it is understood the board was found to be operating within the terms of its advertisement consent. In light of the concerns raised, it is understood officers will carry out further checks and review the site again.
