Happy Valley Chinese restaurant sign sparks York planning row

A retrospective planning application for a York Chinese restaurant sign has been met with objection.

The manager of Happy Valley on Goodramgate said the larger first-floor sign would bring in more customers.

The restaurant is located on the Grade I listed Lady Row, which dates back to 1316 and is believed to be the oldest surviving row of houses in York.

An objection from local group the Guildhall Planning Panel said the sign was "too obtrusive".

Manager Junyue Tan submitted the application to alter the signage in January and it is due to go out for consultation on 1 April.

He wrote that the more visible branding would give the restaurant "better prospects for years", amid high insurance and maintenance costs.

He added that the sign could be installed and uninstalled within an hour and would not affect the structure of the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The objection to the sign followed a similar objection made to the restaurant's neighbouring business.

Old York Tea Room also applied for a sign retrospectively and was going through an appeal process after the council ordered its removal.

One of the owners, Tony Vickers, said at the time: "We believe there's absolutely nothing wrong with what we've done.

"We're more upset than angry because what we've created is beautiful and it seems York agrees.

"Our customers don't want us to remove it and they're the ones that pay my bills at the end of the day and keep us going, so we've got to listen to them."

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