Highway inspectors have given a clean bill of health to the controversial three dimensional ‘mug’ outside the High Flyer in Ely.

Andre Chabot from the county council highways department, says he inspected the ‘mug’ following a bid by company director Henry Tudor for planning permission.

Mr Tudor, who owns Just Eats (Ely) Ltd that runs the pub, has submitted a retrospective planning application to East Cambridgeshire District Council to retain it.

Mr Chabot says: “I have no objections. The proposed structure is located off the highway and does not affect access, turning or parking at the site.”

He said: “I have attended site to consider the effect this may have on passing traffic and while I note the structure is quite unusual, the advertising included on its surface is relatively simple.

“While it may attract the attention of some drivers, I consider the distraction to be limited.

“On balance, I do not consider this to be an unreasonable distraction beyond many others that might be found in environments such as this.”

He added: “I would not therefore look to object on this basis.”

The retrospective application followed enforcement action by the council after they said “all other avenues of negotiation were exhausted".

Councillor Bill Hunt, chairman of the council’s planning committee, said: “While I appreciate that many will find the giant mug novel and quirky, as a council we have a duty to follow legislation, national and local planning policies."

The controversy continues as a petition to keep the massive mug in place reaches nearly 500 signatures.

Cllr Hunt said: "Following several reports over the past month, officers from the council’s planning department visited the site.

"They liaised with the owners and subsequently served a removal notice for the giant mug currently situated on the side of the building, which does not have the necessary permissions.

“Proposals such as this are subject to going through the necessary planning processes. In addition to this, we must also consider that the location of the pub is within a conservation area.

"Therefore, any proposals must be of a particularly high standard of design.

“Since the removal notice was served, the planning department has received retrospective applications".