Local Councillor Calls For Change As 'Unsightly' Petrol Station Signs Dominate Landscape

Monday, 21 October 2024 12:36

By Martin Osborne

Cllr Pádraig McEvoy said the signs are oversized, unsightly and inconsistent with efforts to combat climate change.

A local councillor has taken issue with oversized 'totem pole' signage at petrol stations.

Cllr Pádraig McEvoy described a nearly 40-year-old law that encourages petrol stations to use large advertising signs as outdated and misaligned with current climate goals.

He said the law, originally meant to ensure petrol prices were clearly visible in large print, has led to the spread of towering "totem pole" signs across the country.

He said the signs are oversized, unsightly and inconsistent with efforts to combat climate change.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, he said fossil fuel companies now often have the most prominent signage of any business, with massive vertical billboards reaching roof height in some areas.

He said they reinforce a 'car-centric' mindset, at a time when we should be promoting public transport wherever possible.”

McEvoy’s concerns arose after Kildare County Council opted to replace the term “petrol stations” in its development plans with the broader “fuel stations,” reflecting the growing presence of electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

He said that while this change recognises the shift towards EVs, the council has little power to address the oversized signage due to the existing law.

He said at the very least, the signs should be required to show the price of EV charging at fuel stations in equally large numbers.

McEvoy also pointed out that fuel stations in some European countries use far more discreet signage, contrasting with the current situation in Ireland.