PENARTH councillors have urged Prezzo to reconsider illuminated signage for its new Italian restaurant in the town centre.

Prezzo, which is hoping to to open its doors in the former Spar store on Windsor Road in early March, has now lodged a fresh planning application for ‘new projecting and fascia signs’.

The plans include built-up stainless steel letters illuminated by low energy white LED’s.

During last night’s (February 19) Penarth town council planning committee meeting councillors endorsed an observation from the town clerk ‘that given the Vale of Glamorgan council’s guidance on shop front design within the conservation area that the applicant be asked to reconsider the type of projection sign to be used to ensure it is not internally illuminated”.

The matter will now be considered by a delegated planning officer from the Vale council.

Prezzo’s £600,000 Italian restaurant, which will bring around 18 jobs to the town, will be spread over two floors with space for 118 diners in the main restaurant and 20 diners in a new patio garden at the rear.

Plans for the building were thrown into doubt last year when a planning officer from the Vale Council said he was “minded to refuse” the planning application for change of use from retail (class A1) to restaurant (class A3).

Penarth councillor Lis Burnett also called in the application to the Vale council’s planning committee and recommended that Prezzo move into the former Blockbuster premises on Hickman Road instead.

But the Vale council eventually approved the planning application in November last year, saying that the application could provide economic benefits and employment to the town centre, and would result in a vacant unit being occupied and jobs being created.

Work started on renovating the former Spar store in January, with the restaurant hoping to open on March 12.