Traders in legal fight over signs ban
Friday 21st May 2010, 11:39AM BST.
Ludlow traders who have been asked to remove pavement billboards today revealed they could launch a legal challenge to the move, claiming it could lead to their businesses closing.
Businesses said the pilot project run by Shropshire Council to reduce the number of A-boards was far from voluntary.
They felt they were being forced to scrap an essential part of their advertising.
And a group of about 15 traders are now jointly paying for a solicitor to look into the legal position over the issue.
Debbie Chatham, of the Ludlow Cookshop in Pepper Lane, said: “They’ve sent letters to some businesses asking them to remove A-boards voluntarily, but then they will remove them, charge us £10 a day for storage and may destroy them after 28 days, so it’s voluntary, but with a gun to your head.”
Recession
She added: “The council believes it has the jurisdiction to just come in and remove A-boards as it pleases. The traders are up in arms, we are still recovering from a recession, it isn’t over yet and many rely absolutely on their directional A-boards if they are in back streets. Their removal would equal the closure of our business.”
A solicitor has written to Shropshire Council on behalf of the traders stating their position and saying they are open to discussion to find a solution, she said. The Ludlow Cookshop has been running a petition, which has just under 100 signatures.
Kate Adams, Shropshire Council’s street scene manager for south-west Shropshire, said: “We would like to stress this policy is not to remove A-boards completely, but to ensure they are used in an appropriate manner following many concerns from residents to reduce the number of A-boards in our market towns.”
By Hannah Costigan
UK News
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Don’t these people realise that pavements are for pedestrians, not a place to advertise their shops I do not need a reminder blocking the walkway that the shops sells whatever, as a disabled scooter rider there are enough hazards on pavements with out A boads being placed on walkways, further adding to hazards including illegally parked vehicles on pavements.
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All the shops I have ever seen have information plastered all over them making it obvious what is available there, another clue is what is displayed in their windows. I would conclude from this that A-boards are totally unnecessary, and, I would assume that the people of Ludlow have by now learned to remember where the various shops are located. For traders to say the banning of A-boards could lead to the closing of businesses is just ridiculous. Get real, pavements are for pedestrians and, of course, extra parking for those who can’t be bothered to walk a few yards.
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I think if they get their lawyer to check the Highways Act they will find that these A boards are illegal.
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A lot of these shops are down small hidden alleyways which would often go unnoticed by first-time visitors to the town, if it weren’t for a strategically placed board at the end of the road. Really, what harm has an A-board ever caused to a pedestrian? Sounds like the Health and Safety police making a mountain out of a molehill to me.
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