New crackdown on A-Boards fails to go down well with many traders who say they play a vital role

Published on Friday 2 July 2010 11:50

THE ROYAL Mile will never look quite the same.

A controversial ban on advertising boards – or A-boards, as they are commonly called – has came into force, with council workers confiscating 25 signs on a first-day blitz.

The outlawing of A-boards on both the Royal Mile and Rose Street was brought in following years of debate about the impact they had on the appearance of the streets.

The blanket ban was widely opposed by many retailers. They say that they need the signs to get people into their businesses.

Some firms who are on closes off the Royal Mile say that the ban could make their businesses "unviable".

Two teams of council workers were out yesterday to take a hard line approach on companies that had not removed their A-boards after warning letters about the ban's introduction.

Anyoards still on the street were confiscated during two separate raids by roads workers and environmental wardens. Businesses must pay 50 to get them back.

• Poll: Was the council right to ban advertising boards from the Royal Mile?

Council crews will continue to carry out spot checks to ensure that the ban is not being flouted.

Cormac Lovett, manager of Mai Thai on Old Fleshmarket Close, which had a sign on the High Street directing customers to the restaurant that was taken away by crews without discussion yesterday, said: "25 per cent of our business is from people seeing that sign.

"We've only done three covers at lunchtime today. It's usually a lot more than that. It is just not operable, not at lunchtime anyway.

"It is going to have a big impact on the viability of the business. The alternative is to have individual flyering staff, but that's very expensive."

The neighbouring Cafe Marlayne had taken in its two signs, which cost 300, before the council staff arrived, though they also fear they will lose the passing trade.

Chef Jeff Fraser said: "I've been accused of obstructing the street but that is a bit cynical giving that they allow all the people in these stalls selling odds and sods on the Royal Mile.

"It could have a big impact. It was bad enough dealing with being slightly off the beaten track. At festival time, they close the road off and put barriers up, making it difficult enough to benefit from the festival, without adding this, but we are still paying astronomical rates and rent."

Previous crackdowns have been launched by the council to ensure that A-boards were not too big or causing an obstruction.

It was found that, while there was a short-term improvement, eventually the problem returned.

During yesterday's blitz, 15 boards were confiscated from the Royal Mile, followed by another 10 on Rose Street.

Not all businesses appeared to have their boards immediately confiscated.

Bosses at Forsyth's Tea Room, on Chalmers Close, were told by the council staff that they could no longer put their sign out on the High Street.

They were allowed to take their sign into Chalmers Close and were told that they would be able to nail the sign up on the entrance to the close.

Some businesses were supportive of the ban. One businesswomen, who did not want to be named, said: "I had a sign outside that was stolen and I never replaced it.

"I don't think the ban is so bad. The street looks a lot better without them."

The council's crews are said to have got a more negative response from businesses on Rose Street, with some firms initially refusing to let them take their signs away.

Struan Mackenzie, director of Hi-Fi Corner on Rose Street, said: "I cannot be more against this. It's just another problem that, in the current climate, we could do without.

"We have been here over a decade and we have a standard-sized A-board that doesn't get in anyone's way that is very important to our business.

"We find that if we put information on our A-board, it helps improve business but if we put it on the shop window it doesn't.

"The whole thing is a farce and they are working against retailers. We are in a recession and people are struggling but they are making it more difficult."

He also refuted suggestions that the street looks better without the signs. "It looks deserted," he said. "They add a friendly warm feel to the area, with its boutique shops. Without them it's just barren."

Some businesses pointed out that many of the baskets full of clothes and hats outside tartan souvenir shops were much more unsightly.

The council confirmed that such "street clutter" is not allowed and is regularly the subject of crackdowns, where the baskets and their contents are confiscated, but that they were not part of yesterday's blitz.

Graeme Muir, who runs the Royal Mile Trading Company, admits that some traders are looking at ways around the legislation - such as putting mannequins outside with T-shirts advertising products.

"The shop window can be effective but you would rather not have lots of signage because it would look tacky," he said. "A-boards catch the customer's eyes.

"I don't see why the council can ban them on the Royal Mile and not other streets. Narrow streets like Jeffrey Street will be a lot worse."

A city council spokeswoman said: "We are pleased with the response we have had from the majority of local businesses in respect to the A-board ban, and we would like to thank those business owners who cooperated.

"We are convinced this will have a positive impact on the city environment and make the streets in question safer and more attractive."