'Ban our A boards and we'll go out of business' - Kendal traders (From The Westmorland Gazette)

'Ban our A boards and we'll go out of business' - Kendal traders

9:30am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Business By Daniel Orr, Reporter

SHOPKEEPERS in Kendal have pledged to fight a ban on advertising boards which they claim could cause them to go out of business.

South Lakeland District Council wants to remove the ‘obstacles’ from pedestrianised areas after Sight Advice South Lakes claimed the boards were preventing visually-impaired people from getting around.

But while many traders received a letter threatening court action unless the boards were removed, others such as Kirkland Books in Collin Croft, did not.

About 30 Kendal traders, who attended a meeting on Tuesday at Acebo Cafe, agreed to write to SLDC to say they believed this discrepancy was unfair, and that they would continue to display their boards until the situation was cleared up.

Amanda Slattery, who owns Maya Maya, in Blackhall Yard, places a board in Stricklandgate to promote her ladies’ fashion shop, and believes it is essential for her business to survive.

“This could genuinely close businesses,” she said. “I cannot afford to sit back in the middle of a recession and not let people know where I am. I am trying to keep the business going and if I do not rely on ladies walking down the street, who see the sign and come and have a look for the shop, my shop won’t be here next year. It is as simple as that.”

Simon Thomas, owner of Staff of Life bakery, just off Finkle Street, said he felt the council’s claim that it was acting to help visually-impaired people was a ‘red herring’ and it was a way for the authority to make money.

Stephen Slattery, dealer principal at Kia Motors, Rayrigg Road, Bowness, attended the meeting and he said: “You will still have obstacles such as bollards, benches, council boards – you could walk into a lamppost. If we could agree on a size for the boards that might solve the issue.”

Derek Armstrong, manager of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, backed traders and said businesses really needed to ‘push’ the issue.

District councillor Ian Stewart, cabinet member for economy and enterprise, will host an invite-only meeting for traders at Kendal Town Hall this evening.

A spokesperson for SLDC said: “The enforcement letters were sent out to traders who had been displaying an “A” board when our officers carried out a check. There is no selection process. SLDC will be consistent in its approach and continue to monitor the situation.”