Application for new sign is opposed

The Little High Street centre has applied for retrospective permission for the replacement of the ‘Ropetackle’ lettering with ‘Basepoint’ on both the north and east elevations.

Margaret Higginbottom, who was one of the first residents to contact the Herald in dismay when the name was changed back in June, said: “Basepoint have put in a retrospective planning application for the name change and this, after they claimed they already had council approval.

“I really think this is a disgrace and I’m pretty sure not many of our ‘more than a 1,000 petition signatures’ will be aware.”

She is one of a number of residents who have written to Adur District Council to oppose the planning application.

Among them, Mr David Roberts said: “The proposed change of name completely removes the historical links to the traditional name for the site on which the building is situated.

“If this is permitted, then Shoreham will be losing part of its heritage, and future generations will not be able to make the links between ‘current Shoreham’ and ‘old Shoreham’.”

His views reflect those of many who have previously written to the Herald on the subject.

James Appleton, head of planning, has previously said Basepoint was given permission to change the name of the building for address purposes but it did not have permission to change the sign and would need advertisement consent for that.