TOWN councillors have called for tighter controls on the proliferation of A-boards in Kendal's shopping centre but have fallen short of demanding a total ban.
South Lakeland District Council is revisiting the issue of A-boards and carrying out "a thorough review of the problem" through its Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The authority asked for town councillors' views on the issue and there was a general consensus that compromise was called for, although Coun Andy Shine, who is vice chairman of the South Lakeland Voluntary Society for the Blind, hoped that members would oppose the existence of A-boards on Kendal's shopping streets. He said it was not illegal to have A-boards but it was against the law to cause an obstruction.
Coun Simon Butterfield said he was in favour of seeing A-boards removed from the streets and replaced with hanging or wall-mounted boards but would not like to see tables and chairs outside cafes and restaurants disappear.
Coun Paul Braithwaite said the council ought to be guided by what partially sighted and disabled people had to say but could not see a problem with one or two A-boards advertising shops.
His view was shared by Coun David Birkett, who believed it was the "haphazard" placing of A-boards that created the problem but warned that the plight of the town's traders should not be ignored. "Don't bash the trader," he exclaimed. "When I go into a different town I look for tables and chairs outside. I feel it's appropriate. If the visually impaired are aware of these things, I think it's perfectly reasonable."
Coun Paul Little said cafes and restaurants should have room "in controlled circumstances" to allow tables and chairs to "spill out" on to the streets.
Three years ago, SLDC held protracted discussions with traders and others about the feasibility of introducing a licensing scheme for "appropriately located and designed A-boards in the town centre" but the proposal foundered following strong objections from traders who saw it as an unnecessary control and a cost on their business.
May 8, 2003 16:00
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