Residents' Group Questions British Airway's Ad Sign

'Magic of Flying' may become 'tragic roundabout' say WCGS

The advertising display on the A4 near Chiswick Roundabout which interacts with British Airways planes as they fly overhead is in breach of planning conditions according to a local residents' group.

The West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society (WCGS), which opposed the building of the towers originally, point to the following stipulation in the document approving the signs:

"The displays on all panels shall be identical at all times and shall be static and two dimensional only with no moving or apparently moving images, devices, words or emblems and shall not depict any images that resemble road signs or traffic signals."

Marie Rabouhans, Chairman of the WCGS said, 'I did not see the ads and I am not a planning professional but I imagine that encouraging drivers to read the "small print" and/or look up to the sky as they drive over the Chiswick Flyover or negotiate the Chiswick roundabout might raise public safety issues with respect to such ads. The "magic of flying" might turn into the "Tragic Roundabout" in more ways than one. '

The digital display will has tracking devices which provide onscreen updates when a British Airways flight is overhead giving details of where the plane is coming from. A child points to the sky as the plane passes to emphasise the 'magic of flying'.

British Airways denied that the advertising was in breach of planning conditions when we asked them about the signs.

We contacted Hounslow Council to ask if any enforcement action was being planned in relation to the signs but have yet to receive a response.

November 29, 2013