MP's office sign removed over planning 'error'

Bill Edgar
Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC Lola McEvoy standing near Big Ben and Parliament in London. She has brown hair and is wearing a pink checked jacket and white top. There are a lot of red busses in the background while, close to the MP, is traffic including vans and a cyclist on a black bike.BBC
Lola McEvoy was elected as Darlington's MP last summer

An MP's office sign has been taken down after breaching planning regulations.

Darlington's Lola McEvoy opened her new office on Blackwellgate to the public at the end of last month, having been elected as a Labour MP in the summer.

However, the sign attached to the town centre building did not have advertisement or listed building consent.

McEvoy's staff attributed it to an "administrative error" and it is understood work is under way to apply for permission.

The sign, reading "Lola McEvoy Member of Parliament for Darlington", was taken down on Tuesday, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A brick building on Darlington's Blackwellgate. The ground floor has glass windows and signs for a beauty shop. On the right-hand side is an entrance with a small red sign above the doorway for Lola McEvoy's office. A large red banner is attached to the front of the building above the second floor with Lola McEvoy's name on it in white writing. Underneath it says Member of Parliament for Darlington.
McEvoy's staff said they not been aware permission had been needed

A spokesperson apologised for the error, adding: "The office received permission to replace the previous signage on the building with our own, but were not aware that additional planning consent would be needed.

"We're delighted the office is open to the public and are looking forward to inviting constituents in to help them in any way we can."

Staff have been working from the office since last year, although meetings with constituents had been held at other locations in the town while McEvoy waited for security measures to be installed.

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