Office looks like lapdancing club say villagers

May 15 2009 By Russell Butt

Otto Bock offices

Lighting installed at an office in Englefield Green makes the building look like a lapdancing club, say concerned villagers.

The blue lights on the corner of Middle Hill and Parsonage Road, where German prosthetic limb specialists Otto Bock plc are based, has got locals shaking their heads.

On May 13 Runnymede Council's planning committee met to consider a retrospective planning application for two illuminated facias at the site.

James Davis, from Middle Hill, gave objections to the committee during a three-minute window, granted him by chairman, councillor Geoff Woodger.

He said: "Otto Bock have been here for about 20 years and have been good neighbours. But the sudden need for fluorescent signs and blue downlighting, for an office with no retail needs seems rather heavy handed in a residential area, especially as they are sometimes on until 9.30pm.

"If granted, this could set a precedent for the whole area and St Judes Road might look like downtown Las Vegas. It is out of character with the whole village."

Ward Councillor for Englefield Green East, Marisa Heath, described the lighting as 'shocking' during the meeting.

Speaking afterwards, she said: "I received emails and phone calls from concerned residents concerned, so I drove by and was quite startled at the brightness. We realise that Otto Bock needs to run a business from this office but were confused as to why that warranted such lighting after 6pm when the office is shut."

Managing director at Otto Bock, Phil Yates, responded: ‘"Otto Bock are committed to working in harmony with the local community as it has done since 1986, and will give the concerns raised at the Planning Committee meeting proper consideration."

The application was granted, with the condition that the lights are turned off from 6pm until 7am - this was amended during discussions, having previously been 7pm until 7am.