CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Paper 1 Date 5/01/04 
CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Title: COMMENTS ON APPLICATION NOT CALLED-IN 
(DOUBLE-SIDED FRONTAGE SIGN (BED AND 
BREAKFAST), TORBEG, GLENGAIRN, BALLATER 
(03/0137/CP) 
Prepared by: NEIL STEWART, PLANNING OFFICER, 
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL 
Purpose 
At the Planning Committee on 19 December 2003, Members asked that they be given the opportunity 
to put forward comments on the above application which had been notified to the Cairngorms 
National Park Authority but not called-in. This short report puts forward suggested comments for 
Members to consider and agree as their response to Aberdeenshire Council. 
Recommendations 
That the Committee agree the comments contained in this report as their response to 
Aberdeenshire Council. 
Executive Summary 
This application for Advertisement Consent was notified to the Cairngorms National Park 
Authority on 9 December 2003. The proposal is to erect a double-sided signboard on two 
metal posts at a position adjacent to the site entrance of an existing B & B establishment 
located at “Torbeg” on the north side of the Ballater to Glengairn Road (A939). The 
signboard is sized at 1.04m square and the overall height of the sign on its posts is 2.57m. 
The sign is constructed of white painted timber. The lettering which advertises the B & B 
services is coloured blue. At present, there are two existing signs advertising the property, 
positioned at the east and west ends of the site boundaries. These were erected by the owners 
without the benefit of Advertisement Consent and, following complaints, Aberdeenshire 
Council sought a retrospective application for these unauthorised structures. This proposal is 
to replace the two existing signs with one double-sided sign. 

Suggested Comments 
In the interests of promoting local economic development in the form of supporting tourist 
related proposals, the Cairngorms National Park Authority supports the principle of this 
business and its proposal to advertise its services. However, the site is in a prominent 
position on a main tourist route, in a sensitive rural area. The Cairngorms National Park 
Authority feels that the proposed sign, due to its height, design and colour would be 
detrimental to the character and appearance of this countryside location and would 
compromise road safety. The Cairngorms National Park Authority therefore suggests that, in 
the interests of conserving and enhancing the cultural and natural heritage of this part of the 
National Park, the height of the sign be reduced and the design of the signboards and the 
posts be amended to suit this countryside location. In addition, the colour should be changed 
to one which is more subdued and less reflective. 
Neil Stewart 
23 December 2003 
neilstewart@cairngorms.co.uk 
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