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January 10, 2007
A-board gravy train?
Yesterday I touched on the council's move to make traders across the borough pay to place boards advertising their businesses outside their stores.
We have reported this story in depth on page three of this week's Gazette - out today - and I have to say the response from traders is one of horror and outrage.
Hillingdon council claim the decision follows complaints from residents about the safety of pavements for blind and partially sighted people, the elderly and parents with pushchairs.
What I fail to understand is how by asking traders to pay nearly £400 to place the boards outside their shops is going to make them any safer! How can handing over this money to the council make an A-board seen to be dangerous suddenly become safe? And how enforceable is it going to be?
I will admit to having something of a vested interested in this issue because the Gazette has a number of A-boards outside newsagents across the borough which, we use to promote stories in the paper each week.
But that aside I still find it a difficult pill to swallow that this kind of 'stealth tax' can be introduced on businesses.
During a very quick walk around Uxbridge town centre yesterday I counted at least 30 A-boards outside different shops - from employment agencies to restaurants/bars. Now, you don't have to be a mathmatician to work out this this new charge could be a nice little earner for the council across the whole borough!
So is this new legislation a gravy train for the council or a genuine piece of common sense legislation? I will leave you to make up your own mind - but I know where my money is...
Posted by aseal at January 10, 2007 7:40 AM