Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Council retreats on Wellington shop pavement displays
Wednesday 18th January 2012, 10:59AM GMT.
Hundreds of people have signed a petition supporting a trader who was ordered to remove his displays of fruit and veg from outside his store in Telford.
John Painter, who has run J P Fruits in Wellington for more than 20 years, said he was ‘overwhelmed’ after more than 400 people had supported his cause.
He was one of a number of traders in New Street who Telford & Wrekin Council threatened with a £1,000 fine and removal of stock, if their displays were not removed from the street. Council chiefs claimed they were dangerous for pedestrians.
After talks, the council reached an understanding that goods can be displayed outside on a temporary basis, up to 6ft around the shop, until plans for a new ‘pavement licence’ scheme are introduced.
Mr Painter said: “I think the council had a heavy-handed approach, but due to public support and publicity in the press they have taken a commonsense approach to it and are coming to a compromise until the licence scheme is discussed.”
He said two borough councillors told him that the intention was never to stop the displays, but to have more control of them.
Mr Painter said people were still going into the shop wanting to sign the petition, even though the council had withdrawn the threat of action for now.
Mr Painter said he would continue gathering signatures until the end of the week. “The support we have had has been brilliant and we are very grateful,” he added.
Veena Arora, who runs Tip Top Fashions, spoke of her relief that she would now be allowed to display clothing outside the store.
“I was nearly ready to ring my landlord and give notice. But now I have my displays back, people see them and come into the shop. The public have been so lovely in supporting us.”
See also:
Sponsored Links
Most Commented
- Leader: Hospital parking suggestion simply nonsense
- Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Leader: Crimewave goes up with the mercury
- MP Owen Paterson opposed to same-sex marriages
- Letter: Who will foot public sector bill?
- Parking zones fear for Shropshire hospital workers
- Hospital 18-week waiting list down to 800
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
LIVE traffic updates
Road, rail and airport - latest
Our new, live traffic and travel updates service - check before you set out.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Dare I say it? People power at work?
Report abuse
I bet the HSE will be cringing when they hear what councils think is good H&S policy.Councils seem to be driven more by fear of prosecution than real issues of H&S. (HSE has some good examples of H&S myths on their web site – councils should read this before they become a part of it.)
With the high street struggling for trade nonsense like this needs knocking on the head and the time spent helping traders trade.
Report abuse
so much for co-operative council avoiding mistakes of the past ensuring proper consultation of the public in matters of local governance! Cllr Shaun Davies should resign of this incompetence , typical socialism , over regulate, threaten fines, then having upset the majority of business traders and public backtrack .Total nonsense , I feel sorry for the traders having to deal with their nonsense.
Report abuse
Sounds like the council has seen sense – good thing too – but is this really a resignation issue? I hope you’re not always this angry, Pete, you’ll do yourself an injury!
Report abuse
Absolutely a resignation issue the whole co-operative nonsense is a demonstrable waste of public money , a responsible and principled resignation immediately removes an unwarranted allowance that should never of existed further hastens the demise of the co-operative moribund with its undemocratic appointed apparatchiks. The stress to traders and the huge support by the public defines this issue which is entirely accountable to co-operative bureaucracy . If there was an issue individual businesses should have been approached firstly to seek a resolution , instead we have the whole highstreet now being imposed with excessive charges and regulation the implementation of which shall further needlessly burden taxpayers and traders alike. Wake up Rob this nonsense was entirely avoidable!
Report abuse
Totally agree with Pete. People who are incapable of doing the job correctly in the first place, should be replaced. We have far too much beaurocratic incompetence from councils all over the country.
Report abuse
The reason quoted about a danger to pedestrians was nonsense. However, stopping businesses grabbing free advertising space that does not belong to them, any more than it belongs to anyone else, is the right thing to do. The licencing scheme sounds like a good move.
Report abuse
People power overcomes jobsworths.
Report abuse
Just another excuse to impose a back door tax
Report abuse
Ofcourse a licensing scheme is needed. Otherwise who is to say how far out each shop can display their goods, and if it infringes on the neighbouring shop etc, etc,. The trader in question needs to be reminded that he is paying rent(or owns his own freehold) for his shop only and not for the pavement or pedestrian area in front of his premises.
Report abuse