A COUNCIL clampdown on advertising boards on the area’s high streets has sparked fury among traders.

Measures to regulate the growing number of A-boards outside shops could now see business owners receive a hefty court fine. South Lakeland District Council is taking action after the boss of a charity helping the blind claimed the boards were preventing visually-impaired people from getting around South Lakeland’s towns.

Director for Sight South Lakeland, Carl Hodge, said: “Kendal’s Finkle Street is now a slalom ski slope for blind and partially-sighted people. They’ve got to navigate their way around them and they are a real obstacle.

“People have tripped over them. We appreciate traders are trying to maximise their sales, but they’ve got to be regulated and rules enforced.”

But traders say they need the boards to help attract customers. Simon Thomas, of Kendal’s Staff of Life Bakery, in Berry’s Yard, said: “My shop is down an alley and if I didn’t have my A-board out on the street, people visiting wouldn’t know I was here.

“I have a number of blind customers and I have never heard a thing about A-boards being a problem.”

According to council guid-elines the boards can be installed in an enclosed forecourt in front of a business, but not on any area of pavement which forms part of the highway.

South Lakeland District Council’s planning enforc-ement team is currently carr-ying out a survey of Kendal, Milnthorpe, Cartmel, Kirkby Lonsdale, Grange-over-Sands, and Arnside, to assess how many boards break the rules.

Business owners will be notified by letter of any breach and persistent flouting of the rules could end up with them being taken to court and fined. Derek Arms-trong, of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “If the council starts enforcing this, there will be ructions from traders.

“If we’re looking at A-boards, what about flower beds and lampposts?”

An SLDC spokesperson said: “While we understand traders need to promote and advertise their businesses we urge them to do it in a manner which does not adversely affect pedestrians.”