A BURGER restaurant which put an illuminated sign on a listed building in Colchester High Street without permission has been told to take it down. 

Big Mouth Burger, which is located in a Grade II* listed building, put up the sign which included a burger and its name despite Colchester Council rejecting the bid. 

The restaurant launched an appeal arguing it should be allowed to keep the sign. 

But the inspector has now found that the sign, on the building which is in the Colchester conservation area, "appears discordant." 

Colchester Council policy says where required, the illumination of signs should generally be achieved either by external fittings, be backlit, or by halo lettering. 

The council argued the sign was illuminated but Big Mouth Burger said it was backlit. 

The report by inspector Chris Forrett said: "The appellant suggests that because of the colonnade and porch projection across the pavement, the various shopfronts are not visible unless standing in the road or under the colonnade itself.

"However, as observed on my site visit, the signs are readily visible from the pavements on both sides of the road.

"In this location, the illuminated display would be a discordant and unduly prominent feature. The type and design of the advertisement would detract from the building’s quality, and it would be visually harmful to the locality."

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “We welcome the Planning Inspector's decision to dismiss the appeal for a backlit logo and lettering on 156C High Street.

“The signage was erected without consent, which is an offence under the Listed Building and advertisement regulations, and was refused because its appearance is alien and contextually incongruous to this important listed building at the heart of the Colchester City Conservation Area.

The spokesman added: “The council is committed to protecting the character and appearance of its historic environment, and we believe that the Inspector’s decision in this case is the right one.”

Big Mouth Burger was contacted for comment but did not respond before the Gazette went to press.