By-law ban for street ad boards
Friday 27th November 2009, 2:29PM GMT.
BUSINESSES could be taken to court for putting out advertising boards and plant pots.
A by-law has been in place for many years, but now the Town constables and the police are clamping down on A-boards and pots.
They said it was to help blind islanders find their way around Town.
But businesses which do not have a street-level frontage say they rely on the boards to bring in trade.
Prime Recruitment is above Ray Anthony Menswear and can be accessed only by a staircase.
Director Julia Le Tissier said her business relies on its A-board and she would be looking to take the constables to court for loss of earnings.
‘I will suffer a huge financial loss,’ she said. ‘This year has been hard enough without another problem. It is vital for my business. It’s making a tough year even harder.’
When she took on her lease two years ago, she understood she would be allowed to use A-boards to attract business.
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Time to abolish the douzaines/constables and consign both them and their petty bureaucratic ways to the 19th century where they belong. They are utterly pointless and self serving and a total anachronism in this day and age and while we’re about it we should sweep away our ridiculous Sunday trading laws at the same time. Yet another example of red tape rubbish stifling commerce during these hard times.
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When will this madness ever end? I mean, it’s disgraceful, the police threatening to prosecute people for braking the law? Who do they think they are ??
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Do like Cairns In Australia, charge a small fee to put the board out issuing a sticker that must be displayed
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If the good folk in authority are concerned about blind people tripping over flower pots and A-boards (and is there proof of such incidences) why do they not hire Morris Dancers to dance around these pots and boards…the jingle jangle cacophany of their bells will give plenty of warning…
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“Director Julia Le Tissier said her business relies on its A-board and she would be looking to take the constables to court for loss of earnings.”
Taking the constables to court for enforcing the law? Good luck!
“When she took on her lease two years ago, she understood she would be allowed to use A-boards to attract business.”
Who told her that…the Estate Agent perhaps, or the landlord? If so, she would have a better chance taking them to court for providing false information…if she can prove it, that is.
Like it or not, the by-laws are in place so until they get repealed (which sounds like a good idea IMO) there’s not much that can be done.
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Jackie – if the reason for stopping the boards is to help blind people, I don’t see that paying the constables a fee and putting a sticker on the board is going to help much.
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The photograph accompanying the article appears to be of The Arcade. I can understand why “A-boards” can be a nuisance for able-bodied people, let alone blind people, when located on a narrow pavement next to a busy road, but would their removal from a pedestrian zone really help? I don’t think so but I’m certain my 18-stone frame is more of a hazard to the general public when I’m window-shopping than a flower pot.
Maybe the big illuminated pot plant outside the Town Church needs moving !!!
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How pathetic is this island, this is the 21st century not the middle ages. Haven’t the people in power got nothing better to do but meddle in the lives of small traders. Have they not got more important things to be dealing with. Criminalising the public is all they seem to be interested in whilst blatently wasted public money.
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Oh Guernsey…. get rid of boards to help the blind, i had to laugh when i read this. 90% of the shops are not wheelchair friendly. when they re-did around the church square by the pub they put in 2 sets of stairs! no slope for people in wheelchairs or parents with puch chairs. I see single parent struggling all the time. sometimes i wonder if they make up all these silly laws just so they can fine people and make more money. Also what about bins?? they are at the side, should these be moved.
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Have a look in BBC Jersey’s website (30/11/09) where there is a photograph of an “A-board” urging readers to “HELP JERSEY’S NEEDY AT CHRISTMAS. PLEASE SUPPORT THE JERSEY CHRISTMAS APPEAL”.
Funny old world, eh!!!
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Paul Le P, I do know when I have probs I have a cane or an aide (not a dog yet) BUT I also know Gsy is not wheel chair friendly !!!!! which is more of a concern for me, I understand that paying the states is NOT helping the blind, get suspension signs up of the floor, not a problem
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Stun spray is the answer.
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