West Sussex County Council has written to town centre businesses telling them to take their A boards inside as complaints have been received saying they pose a danger to partially-sighted and blind people and those with mobility problems.

Over-reaction

Steph Norman, 34, owner of Toys Will Be Toys in Stanford Square, said: "Without our A board, our business will shut down, simple as that.

"They get one person complaining to them and they totally over-react.

"Someone is just as likely to fall over the tables and chairs and bins out there."

Bringing custom

Martin Denholm, 52, owner of Solo hair design, in Montague Street, said: "Our A board is the difference between us being here and being gone.

"We put offers out there and they draw us in over 30 customers a week, many of whom become ongoing customers.

"It's coming up to Christmas, the recessions biting, what do they want? Empty shops?"

Lost trade

Steven Rowland, 24, owner of Play, in Warwick Street, said: "If I don't have my sign, I'll lose 25 per cent of my trade.

"I'll probably have to close."

The shopkeepers said the marketing boards were a way to draw customers down streets which looked closed and quiet.

Beverly Corrigan, 35, manager of Parklife Food in Bath Place, said: "Seventy per cent of our business comes in off our boards.

"Without them, visitors and people ignore this road."

Safety for all

In the council letter, the businesses are told the boards will be removed and destroyed by private contractors if they do not co-operate, with "immediate effect".

When told about the proprietors' fears, Frances Pritchard, 52, manager of Worthing Society for the Blind, said: "The boards are low and normally in the middle of the pavement.

"I understand that it's a way of promoting business, but for the safety of everyone, especially visually-impaired people, the boards are a danger."

Liable for injuries

A county council spokesman confirmed there had been complaints from individual residents and mobility groups but said traders could have their details added to the Town Centre Initiative boards which list shops for some of the side streets.

The spokesman said litter bins would be planned by the borough and put in places where they would not cause a hazard.

"The letter does also serve as a reminder to traders that they might be held liable in the event of an injury accident involving an A board, and that could well have serious implications for a business."

Have your say

Do you think the traders should have to remove their A boards?

Vote yes or no in the column to the right of the screen.

What do you think?

Have you tripped over an A board?

Do you think the boards are unsightly?

Are you attracted to shop at businesses with A boards?

Share your views, comment below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.


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