Meeting to be called to address Kendal 'A' board concerns' (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Meeting to be called to address Kendal 'A' board concerns'
1:16pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News
SOUTH Lakeland District Council cabinet member Ian Stewart has called a meeting to address Kendal traders’ ‘A’-board concerns.
Local businesses have protested after receiving letters advising them that their advertising boards could not be displayed on the pavement.
The clampdown was agreed by councillors after the director of charity Sight South Lakeland, Carl Hodge, claimed the boards were preventing visually-impaired people from getting around South Lakeland towns.
Coun Ian Stewart, cabinet member for Economy and Enterprise, met yesterday with Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron to discuss the potential effects removing advertising boards could have on Kendal’s businesses. He will be writing to the affected traders next week to invite them to a meeting with the council’s economic development team.
Coun Stewart said: "The vibrancy that our retailers bring to Kendal is great, and the resiliance of traders in tough economic times is praiseworthy. By working together, we can make sure that a solution is found which recognises the needs of those who need a clear and unobstructed pathway, and also the need for the vibrancy in Kendal to remain."
Comments(7)
BentheBorderCollie
says...
4:04pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Shops in yards do need better signposting - it shouldn't be beyond the wit of designers to come up with something that works and which fits in with the streetscape of the town.
Utter
says...
4:06pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Kentish Man
says...
10:45pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Litter Bins
Flower Troughs
Goods Displayed on pavement
Bus Stops
Pillar Boxes
Electricity junction boxes
Premises with scaffolding
Bollards
davidearnshaw
says...
11:05pm Fri 3 Feb 12
The visually impaired are usually very skilled in finding their way through streets, and around the many obstacles, including other people rushing about the streets, without injury and I feel that Mr Hodge of the "Sight South Lakeland" has been ill advised that these boards are more of a hazard than any of the other items mentioned above. I hope that a compromise can be reached before yet another restrictive and penalising blow is dished out to the Kendal Traders.
KTJane
says...
3:24pm Sat 4 Feb 12
I am quite sure that traders who have made comments are not suggesting all the recession issues are solved by a simple A board. But seeing as these businesses provide local employment and a decent town for us to live in, i think we all need to chill out a bit.
tictoc1
says...
2:39pm Wed 8 Feb 12
Kentish Man wrote:My thoughts exactly! But what I find worse than all of these put together....trying to get out of the shopping centre, especially on a Saturday, opposite Boots and Next! What a stupid place to put bus stops! It's hard enough for the average person, let alone someone visually impared, or a family or person with a pushchair!
Other pedestrian hazards which could be tackled but I don't suppose will be as the council is responsible for them. Litter Bins Flower Troughs Goods Displayed on pavement Bus Stops Pillar Boxes Electricity junction boxes Premises with scaffolding Bollards
Helvellyn55 says...
3:48pm Fri 3 Feb 12
It is complete nonsense to suggest the vibrancy of Kendal will be damaged by the removal of trip hazards. Traders are fixate that they MUST have these things whereas an attractive window display is more effective at securing passing trade. Shoppers are not stupid and do look at the businesses they walk by - motorists should be paying heed to the road and any possible dangers and certaunly not checking A Boards so if any suggests that they should be looking at those A boards....