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Council cuts off passing trade life-line for village businesses following complaint
16/06/2023
An officer from Cherwell District Council advised that if advertising boards weren’t removed the businesses would be fined
Business owners in Adderbury are up in arms over the enforcement of a planning regulation which is being used to stop them advertising their businesses.
A number of traders on the High Street in the village have been attracting passing trade from the main Oxford Road by placing advertising boards on the village Green. But two weeks ago an officer from Cherwell District Council visited the businesses and told them they must remove the signs or face a fine of up to £2,500.
Cherwell says its action follows a complaint.
Ellie Harper from Harper’s Coffee House believes the advertising boards make a big difference to her trade. She said: “We get a lot of people that come past that see my sign on the road. They come in and get a coffee and have lunch.
“The amount of people that come in and say ‘we saw your sign on the road’. Now I’m going to lose that.
“I’m quite hidden away as I’m that further back from the hairdressers – the hairdressers actually covers me. Unless you actually physically drive past the shop you don’t know I’m there.”
Dave Bansal from Adderbury Stores says they are fighting hard to survive in the face of high rents and rising costs and the Council should be supporting them, not making things harder. He said: “The Council should understand the present climate of things around the country, and all around the world. Its going back. So many businesses are closing down.”
The letter from Cherwell District Council to the businesses quotes Section 224 of the Town and Country Planning Act. This states: “If any person displays an advertisement in contravention of the regulations he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of such amount as may be prescribed, not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale”.
Adderbury Parish Council has quickly distanced itself from the decision. They issued a statement saying that the move by Cherwell District Council was not prompted by any complaints from them.
The statement said: “These letters were not prompted by any complaints from the Parish Council and the Councillors do not know who has raised this as an issue with Cherwell District Council.
“For the last few months, the Parish Council has been working with the County Council (who has the responsibility for highways) to find a permanent solution to signage in that area and this is still being progressed by the County Council officers.”
All the traders who were contacted have now removed their advertising boards. On Friday morning just a single promotion for Adderbury’s Party In The Park remained where the signs had been.
Ellie Harper from Harpers Coffee House feels the whole situation is unfair on the businesses. She said: “The signs aren’t affecting anybody. They’re not in the way, they’re not obstructing any views or they’re not causing any issues.
“If I’m honest, I think it is really, really silly. And I do think it’s unfair.”
A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: “We can confirm that the council responded to a complaint about the signage in the normal way and following an enforcement investigation, asked the businesses to remove the signs.
“The signs required advertisement consent and the businesses complied with the council’s request voluntarily. There is nothing preventing the businesses applying for permission for a permanent solution and Cherwell District Council is pleased that this is something Adderbury Parish Council is discussing with Oxfordshire County Council.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Paul Conlan On 16/06/2023 at 2:27 pm
Cherwell District Council, wouldn’t it be democratic to compare the number of people that benefit from the signs to those that have complained, and take note of the actions of the parish council?
Stephen Betts On 18/06/2023 at 6:36 pm
you would think the Council had better things to do they are trying their best to close the town centre down with the parking charges now have to pick on the people of Adderbury