Plans approved for 'The Wing'

New billboard to be introduced at Ronaldsway Airport

Plans for a new illuminated billboard at Ronaldsway Airport dubbed 'The Wing' have been approved.

The proposal for the large digital advertising screen was put before members of the Planning Committee this morning (12 October).

Situated on land adjacent to the roundabout as you enter the airport grounds, the billboard has been described as a 'gateway feature' marking your arrival at Ronaldsway.

It will be 7.23 metres tall, with the screen measuring about 5.1 metres wide and 2.64 metres high, mounted within a curved supporting frame.

Described as an 'innovative design', images of the billboard attracted much comment and attention when they first appeared online.

The applicant, Tim Groves, representing Billboards.im, said the application was the result of several years' time and effort on behalf of the company.

He confirmed, despite having an agreement with the airport about the feature, no public money will be used on the development and it would be '100% privately funded'.

The land the billboard is to be built on is described as 'barren' and 'nowhere near residential dwellings'.

Conditions of approval include no moving images or special effects, a minimum 10-second interval between display changes, automatic brightness adjustment, and the screen defaulting to a blank black screen in the event of a malfunction.

The display would also be turned off between 2am and 6am on Saturdays and Sundays and between midnight and 6am on other days.

Mr Groves confirmed that the billboard would be demolished 'in its entirety' should the term agreed with the airport expire and there be no more desire to continue the structure's upkeep.

The committee agreed it would be a positive addition to the airport grounds and the conditions attached to the application were appropriate.