Sir,
Regarding the county council crackdown on signs and goods for sale on display outside premises, the town's traders make a strong point (last week's front page article).
Shopkeepers, publicans, café and restaurant proprietors pay a small fortune in business rates, and also provide employment opportunities. With a scarcity of public toilets in the town centre, some catering establishments find themselves (willingly or not) making a further contribution to the general good as visitors wander in, use the loo and depart.
In return for their considerable contribution to the public purse, which in no small way reduces the council tax burden on the rest of us, it is surely not too much to ask that they be allowed to use a certain amount of pavement space near their premises to display their wares and advertising material.
As regards the safety aspect, pedestrians are in greater danger having to share pavements with cyclists than from advertising boards and static displays.
If the council pursue this policy, what is to happen when the town centre pedestrianisation scheme comes into force later in the summer? If an advertising board is a hazard, then so is every single table and chair placed on the highway as part of the town's café culture. Are these all to be banned as well? If not, why not? There should not be one law for some businesses and another for the rest.
I hope residents will support our local businesses on this issue. The economy is in recession and there are more empty premises in Tenby now than for many a year. Policies like this, which hinder businesses in their effort to survive in these difficult times, will only lead to more empty premises in the town.
John Bancroft,