An Ellesmere man has campaigned to get neon lights from a nearby store switched off during the night after discovering they did not comply with planning conditions.

Nick Cull, who has lived in Ellesmere for three years, said the neon lights coming from the Tesco store in Canal Way are lit all through the night, despite a planning condition that was made to Shropshire Council which stated that all illuminated signs would be switched off during the store closing times.

When consent was initially granted for the Tesco store in 2008, the planning application noted that there was ‘no illumination proposed’ for its signs. However in 2015, a new application was submitted to the council for ‘illuminated sky signs, window vinyls and pole mounted signs.’

“I live in the middle of Ellesmere and look down on Tesco and it’s large neon lights,” said Mr Cull.

“Although they’re not a disturbance, I was concerned about the light pollution and the fact that the lights were in breach of a planning condition by being on outside of store hours.

“There’s no need for them to be on – everyone knows that Tesco is there so it’s not advertising. They’re quite visible throughout the town and to me, they serve no purpose.”

Mr Cull discovered the lights were in breach of planning conditions after searching for the application made to Shropshire Council. In the report from June 2015 by case officer Karen Townend, it states that Ellesmere Town Council gave consent for the application, providing that “the illumination is turned off outside of store opening hours.”

The officers report states: “Officers consider that the compromise proposed by the town council is appropriate and that restricting the internal illumination to the stores opening hours would reduce the adverse impact of these signs.

“The stores advertised opening hours are 6am to midnight Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday and although it is acknowledged that midnight is late for the illumination any condition restricting illumination to opening hours will ensure that the illumination is switched off between midnight and 6am. On balance officers consider that the development is acceptable and in accordance with adopted policy.”

Mr Cull drew attention to both the head office of Tesco and the Ellesmere branch manager, who he said was “exceptionally receptive” and has alerted a technician to try to sort the problem.

“I know it’s not as simple as one big switch for the lights, but I do appreciate that the store manager listened to my concerns and tried to find a solution,” continued Mr Cull.

“Aside from the light pollution, I believe that big stores like Tesco should comply to the conditions and embrace the quiet ambience of our town.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry that that the store’s sign has remained illuminated overnight. We are working to rectify this as quickly as possible.”