Fears over advertising board ban

Shop owners in Nottingham fear they will lose business if plans to ban advertising A-boards from the streets are approved.

The council has said the boards, which usually stand outside premises, cause access problems for wheelchair users and make street cleaning difficult.

But owner of the Atlas Deli on Pelham Street, Marcus McHale, said the A-boards were a business necessity.

The city council will meet later to discuss the plans.

Council support

Mr McHale said: "This affects us in a great way because our A-board is out on the street, whereas our shop is set quite back, and draws attention and generally gives people an idea of the shop.

"We feel as if the council should be supporting us rather than making things a lot harder for us by asking us to remove these boards.

"The council should be encouraging trade in the city rather than discouraging it which is what they are doing by doing this."

Nottingham city councillor Alan Clark said he had recently noticed the A-boards "all over the place".

He said: "There is a problem of access and people getting through the streets in wheelchairs and also being able to effectively clean the streets.

"People can see there is a business there, people do not necessarily need boards here, there and everywhere."