Businesses ordered to take down banners or face court

Last Tuesday around 15 businesses including Benbrooke's, CRM Letting Agency, Pound Stretcher and Sarah's Shoes received a letter from the Planning Office stating they had 14 days to take down the signage or face a court summons.

According to the planners the banners breach the The Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 Article 84 (Enforcement of advertisement control) and is considered to be detrimental to the visual amenity of the surrounding Ballymoney Conservation Area by reason of its inappropriate scale and design.

However Chris Culbertson from Benbrooke's stated: "The whole things is like a slap in the face and totally unfair. Local businesses are trying their hardest to improve the look of their premises as well as encourage more trade.

"There are other businesses in the town that don't even bother and let their premises go into disrepair and they don't get penalized. However it seems that everytime we do something to enhance ourselves we get knocked back with red tape.

"I've been speaking to other businesses who also received the letters and they to are extremely disappointed. It's totally disheartening, these banners are doing nothing wrong.

"The thing that also annoys me is that a year and a half ago I rebranded my shop and put the signs up and nothing was said then - so why now and especially in this current economic climate?

"It really is a bad job when you can't even put a sign up on your own property. At the minute everything is going up, the rates are high, PAYE is up, minimum wage is up but we can't keep our signs up. It's a disgrace."

Also backing the traders Cllr John Finlay hit out: "This whole thing is a scandalous. We should be encouraging local businesses and not discouraging them.

"Traders are finding it hard enough to make a living so they need as much advertising and publicity as they can. I throughly support their campaign and believe that the Planners have just gone totally over the top with this issue. They should take a step back and look at the bigger picture."

Expressing her concern Joanne McLaughlin, Town Centre Manager continued: "I really can't understand why these banners are not being allowed and why now? The banners look well and enhance the visual impression of the town for shoppers and visitors alike and traders should be commended rather than penalised.

"Businesses are having a rough enough time without more rules and regulations hurting them. Ballymoney Town Centre Management is addressing this matter as a priority"

It is believed the issue was raised during a recent Council meeting when planners refused to give pearmission for an advertisement above the 'Ground' Coffee Shop at High Street.

A planning officer said the Department is not against signage in a Conservation Area but said signs need to be appropriately designed.

A spokesperson from the Planning Office said: "Planning Service can confirm it has issued warning letters to businesses in the Ballymoney area. If the signs are removed no further action will be taken. The businesses also have the option of seeking planning consent however no guarantee can be given that approval would be forthcoming.

"In most cases planning permission is required to display advertisements. If someone displays an advertisement without the relevant consent they may be subject to enforcement action and in due course, a court fine.

"If businesses wish to place advertisements they should check with Planning Service to see if advertising consent is required and if it is required we will help advise how best to go about it. In this way we can ensure public safety and amenity are not compromised."