Plans to take sign protest all the way (From Western Telegraph)

Plans to take sign protest all the way

Furious business people from all over Pembrokeshire are prepared to mount a legal challenge to the county councils pavement signs crackdown.

Earlier this year, the authority warned it would prosecute traders cluttering the sidewalks with unauthorised signs and goods for sale. The majority of shopkeepers up and down the county heeded the warning, but have done so reluctantly - particularly in Narberth, where one of the features of the thriving town has always been the pavement displays outside many of the businesses.

With backing from the Federation of Small Businesses, the towns Chamber of Trade is now waiting for Pembrokeshire County Council to take a trader to court. If that happens, they will begin a counter-fight - all the way to the European Court of Human Rights in Brussels if necessary. Said Chamber treasurer John Williams of Narberths Costcutter supermarket: We have massive support from our members and other Chambers in Pembrokeshire, and are planning a picket of Pembrokeshire County Council offices in September.

It is understood that only two other areas in Britain have been subject to a pavement goods and signs ban. One was in Lincoln, where the county council backed down after opposition from traders, and the other was in Treorchy, which was lifted following an appeal to Brussels. Mr Williams own business features a large and colourful pavement display of fruit, vegetables and flowers. He has reduced it since the council edict and says that eight feet of usable pavement still remains. But if I have to take away my pavement goods altogether I will have to lay off staff, he warned. Putting out and taking away the goods every day involves two part-time jobs, he said.

A Pembrokeshire Chamber of Commerce spokesman said: It was felt that in this economic climate, the county council should be supporting and assisting small and medium enterprises and not creating problems for them. We will be writing to the council to propose a way forward. Pembrokeshire County Council says that its enforcement - which also applies to illegal signs and vehicles for sale on highway verges - comes after an increased number of complaints from the public.

In Tenby businesses have been allowed to set out tables and chairs, but only, said council spokesman Len Mullins, as long as a strict set of conditions are met.

He confirmed that, as yet, no legal proceedings have been started against any trader in Pembrokeshire after the illegal signs purge.