A-board ban bad for business, say traders hit by council fines

Hackney Town Hall. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

Shop and café owners are being threatened with fines by the council for placing A-boards outside their premises.

Hackney Council says they create an obstacle and the Royal National Institute of Blind People supports a “complete ban”.

But entrepreneurs have condemned moves to banish the boards – a crucial tool for attracting passers-by – as overzealous and “another nail in the local shopkeepers’ coffin”.

The council itself advertises on so-called six sheet boards, which occupy far more pavement space than most A-boards.

Hackney Wick record shop Vinyl Pimp was sent a letter by the council telling them to clear away their A-board or risk being hit with a penalty charge.

Theo Christou, who runs Clapton café Doolo’s, claims the council sent him a fixed penalty notice along with picture of his board. He is contesting the fine.

Jenny Hunt, co-manager of café Darton and Hunt in Lower Clapton Road, advertises her business on a small A-board.

She said: “The council are being quite hypocritical really when we’ve got this huge ugly council sign outside which takes up half the pavement.”

Tony Belford of Danny’s Motor Shop said bikes “flying down the pavement” were a greater threat to pedestrians than A-boards.

He said: “The council should do something constructive. This is just another tax. It’s another nail in the local shopkeepers’ coffin”.

The council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods Councillor Feryal Demirci said: “It is in the interests of residents, business owners and the Council that Hackney’s high streets are open and accessible to all.

“We are currently writing to some businesses about their use of A-boards as they create an obstacle on pavements which has caused a nuisance to many and which both RNIB and Disability Backup have campaigned to us about.

“Since 2006 we have been removing street furniture including bollards and other obstacles, and have removed more than 6km of railing. By asking businesses to help to keep our pavements open to all we are asking them to join a process which has already started with the Council.”

A-boards are permitted on privately owned outdoor space but not on streetways, which are controlled by the council.