Aberystwyth Town Council has had enough of tacky signage ruining the town’s look. At a recent planning meeting, councillors called out shops that ignore design rules meant to protect Aber’s historic charm.
The immediate trigger was a planning application from a new business to replace the (now closed) Subway sign on Great Darkgate Street. Councillors said it didn’t follow local guidance:
“Welsh (should be) given priority by being set above or to the left of English text”
We dug through the decades-old documents—and guess what? That requirement? It doesn’t exist.
Extracts from Aberystwyth Shopfront Design Guide 2013 (Ceredigion County Council)
The rules say shopfronts must suit their surroundings, avoid flashy colours, and steer clear of plastic signs or oversized fascias. Designs that clash with the building or street will be refused, especially in the Conservation Area where character is meant to be preserved.
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