Businesses criticise 'ridiculous' street displays ban

A town's businesses have said they will "suffer massively" if they are forced to strip the streets outside their shops of displays and signage.

Hampshire County Council told traders in Lymington's cobbled Quay Street they must remove such items by Friday, or contractors could remove them instead.

The move follows three anonymous complaints made on 15 July, relating to items outside Quayside Fish Hut, Out of the Blue and Lymington Mobiles.

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said it was responsible for keeping pavements and verges "safe and accessible for everyone".

It also said items such as advertising boards could narrow footways, block access and create hazards.

Rachel Reynolds, owner of Quayside Fish Hut, said, as of Friday afternoon, the signage and displays had not been removed.

She said her shop had been displaying items outside for more than 40 years, and their removal would "damage our business so much".

"Most of our trade comes from what we display outside, a lot of people don't even know we're here unless we display things outside," she said.

"All of us are totally devastated."

Mel Cullis, manager of Quayside Fish Hut, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the decision could hit independent traders hard and damage the character of the historic shopping street.

She said: "The shop has been here for several decades. The new rule is ridiculous.

"It is unfair that the aesthetic of the cobbles is going to be taken away. We do not want the street to be completely ruined.

"It is eye-catching. It is the way the town is and is such a nice thing to have."

Cullis said outside displays were vital for bringing people through the door, particularly for businesses that rely on passing trade.

She added: "We need to have our stock outside to draw customers in. It will be horrendous if that is taken away from us."

Liberal Democrat county councillor Jack Davies has launched a petition urging the authority to rethink the decision, which he said received more than 1,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

He accused the council of overreacting to a small number of complaints.

He said: "The small independent businesses on the cobbles are what makes this part of Lymington so special.

"Instead of targeting our small independent shops, the council should be supporting them."

A council spokesperson said items such as advertising boards could narrow footways, block access and create hazards, particularly for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs, and blind or partially sighted people.

They said: "In this case, we received an enquiry about display stands that had been placed in the area.

"When officers attended, they noted similar boards nearby and took a consistent approach in addressing them."