Spalding Civic Society calls for policy on shop front policy on vinyl window stickers
Civic campaigners are calling for Spalding to have a shop front policy in a bid to stop traders having ‘eyesore’ vinyl window stickers.
Spalding and District Civic Society would like to see the end of full window stickers - which stop people seeing in and out of shops and are often seen as garish.
The issue came to light after the district council revealed its ‘untidy sites’ policy - and the civic society feels shop stickers should be next in the authority’s sights to improve the town’s appearance.
Society chairman John Bland said: “There is something missing in the armoury which is a clear shop front design policy.
“The society has highlighted the problem with vinyl advertising in shop windows for many years.
“At least two chains - Poundland and Yorkshire Trading - have chosen to place vinyls on their shop windows in Spalding which they clearly don’t often do elsewhere, examples being Lincoln Poundland and the Yorkshire Trading Newark store.
“Spalding also has examples of shop fronts that are unsympathetic to the building the shop occupies.
“We would like the council to implement a shop front policy which would over time enhance the appearance of our towns and possibly prevent an eyesore of the future.
“Many towns and cities have a clear policy. (Wisbech, for example)
“We feel that a clear design guide would over a period of time enhance our town centre.”
The district council did attach a condition to the
plans for the former sorting office building to try to deter the shop from using such stickers.
However, a council spokesman said: “Internal vinyl stickers, as long as they are not illuminated, do not require consent.
“In certain circumstances external vinyl stickers do require consent but the local planning authority only has control over the content.
“The Civic Society are aware of this.”
We approached Yorkshire Trading Company for comment.