A group of traders in Tenby have strongly objected to a crackdown by the county council to remove the number of street signs and other unauthorised objects on the pavements of the town.

The county council say that illegal signs and 'stalled out' goods for sale on footways can obstruct the likes of wheelchairs and pushchairs, and are a danger not only to the visually impaired, but also to pedestrians in general who often have to step into traffic on the road to avoid them.

The county council's transportation and environment department have stated that they will prosecute those deemed to be displaying unauthorised signage outside their premises, with possible fines for offenders of up to £2,500.

However, traders in the town who believe that they are already burdened with high business rates and ever-increasing costs in what has already been a very difficult time for many in the current financial climate, have launched a petition to fight what they believe are further restrictions being imposed upon them by the council.

The petition gathered the signatures of over 80 business owners in the town in the space of two days.

"The high response from local businesses prepared to sign this petition shows the strong feelings provoked by the method employed to deal with them over this matter," said one shop owner in Tenby.

"There has been no previous correspondence to many of those concerned, with the first contact being a threatening letter with possible individual fines of up to £2,500.

"As shown in the content of the petition, there are many other public highway obstruction issues which need to be addressed affecting the town.

"The county council have stated that they will only deal with written responses rather than discuss and negotiate with the individuals concerned; it has therefore been necessary to organise this petition to provide mutual support for those affected," they added.

The petition states that business owners in the town are disgruntled about being targeted by the county council, despite providing the authority with money in the form of business rates, while other groups such as street traders, service providers like hair braiders and tattooists, and entertainers/musicians, seem to be able to go about their affairs without any objection from the county council, despite the obvious obstruction caused to pedestrians and especially people with disabilities or those with pushchairs.

Traders have also queried why the county council themselves are able to put rubbish bins, bollards and other street furniture on the pavements, which effectively cause obstructions too.

The petition has been sent to MP Nick Ainger, Tenby Chamber of Trade and also Tenby Town Council, whose members agreed to receive it at their meeting on Tuesday evening so that it can be put on the agenda for discussions at their next meeting.

Speaking on the crackdown, the county council's deputy leader and cabinet member for highways and planning, Clr. Jamie Adams, said the authority had been contacted by a number of people regarding the issue in Tenby.

"The owners of illegal objects in the highway should be aware that they can be responsible for causing accidents and are liable for claims," stated Clr. Adams, who said that the situation seemed more evident within the town walls.

"We appreciate traders are keen to ensure their businesses receive the maximum opportunity for publicising their business. However, we hope there is understanding of the real issues inappropriate signage can cause to certain users," he added.