Stafford Council tell Plumbits to take down signs after 20 years

[mark fellows]

Well did you see central news?
Are these local counsellors trying to destroy our local businesses. Making plumb bits remove a sign that over looks a main road. Are these people for real?
Just because they are slightly too big, and its taken them 20 years to spot em!!!
Plus another local company (stafford tyres) who must employ 7 or 8 staff are being pushed away from the town because of high rates.
And the co-op shop closing due to high rates!! another 100 people on the dole.
I really think who ever runs our town must live somewhere like Stoke on Trent or some other big city and maybe they just want to fill stafford with houses. Local firms are going to the wall. Come on you guys in power get it sorted before we have no firms left in the town ( or maybe thats the plan)
we will see........

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Just seen it on ITV news, disgusting.

Worse is apparently a local Stafford solicitors brought it to their attention.

Haven't they got anything better to do?

 

[Confused]

Mark is referring to this on Central News:

www.itv.com/central

 

[Gramaisc]

It is very interesting that this issue, which would appear to have been of absolutely no concern for around two decades should suddenly be raised at this time..

I wonder if the opening of the Screwfix Trade Counter might have provoked a review of similar premises..?

http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/index.php?threads/screwfix-shop-in-grey-friars-place.10975/

apparently a local Stafford solicitors brought it to their attention.

Any idea which one?

 

[wildwood]

Mark is referring to this on Central News:

www.itv.com/central

Well timed advert for Bates' in that clip haha

 

[Fishsticks]

Why would a local solicitor approach the council about Plumbits now after the signs being up for 20 yrs?

Who would instruct them?

Who has something to gain from this?

I think I'm right if I say if I had appropriated my neighbours land and it remained uncontested after 5 years or so, it would become mine?

If all the council require is advertising consent to be given, it should be granted without question due to the length of time it has been in place.

Has it really taken the council 20 years to realise they have made a mistake or have they been forced into a corner by "a local solicitor" acting upon the interests of a global player?

 

[Gramaisc]

If you stand in front of Plumbits you can see the remains of the trees cut down by another large organisation - and contemplate the tiny consequences they suffered...

 

[Fishsticks]

Who is the local solicitor that's what I'd like to know is this available by freedom of request?

Why would a local solicitor make a request is there a plumbase or plumbers world opening i think we should question this.

 

[stoofer34]

How big will the Morrisons sign be?

S

 

[PeterD]

how many local solicitors do we have?

 

[John Marwood]

Send 3s 4d

 

[rbellamy]

Rediculous situation. Nanny State. When I think of some of the bloody eyesores round this town, this sounds like a personal attack on this business.

 

[tek-monkey]

If you stand in front of Plumbits you can see the remains of the trees cut down by another large organisation - and contemplate the tiny consequences they suffered...

Perhaps the problem is that, now the trees are gone, how visible the sign is from over there?

 

[Gramaisc]

Who is the local solicitor that's what I'd like to know is this available by freedom of request?

Why would a local solicitor make a request is there a plumbase or plumbers world opening i think we should question this.

I wonder if that sort of information would be 'commercially confidential'?

I also wonder if there might be a Plumbfix, rather than a Plumbase or Plumbers' World..?

 

[airbusA346]

Plus another local company (stafford tyres) who must employ 7 or 8 staff are being pushed away from the town because of high rates.

Stafford Tyres Non-Domestic Rates are less that what was quoted in most articles I have seen on the subject.

 

[Gramaisc]

Nanny State.

Or Bully State..?

 

[Admin]

Well did you see central news?

I have changed the thread title to more accurately reflect the content, in case anyone who might be interested misses it.

Here is a link to the news story to which the OP refers:

http://www.itv.com/news/central/upd...s-business-to-take-signs-down-after-20-years/

Thanks.

 

[That-Crazy-Rat-Lady]

Let hope if anything it was a great bit of advertising for them!

 

[staffordjas]

Bloody ridiculous!

I notice though that it may be ok if they pay the council £110 for advertising consent. I thought the council was supposed to be supporting local businesses,not trying to screw every penny they can out of them!

(When we bought our house we were told by our solicitor that no-one on the estate was supposed to do this that and the other, but if they put something up and it was there ,uncontested, for 20 years they then couldn't be made to take it down)

It is a bit of a coincidence that it's come at a time when a recent similar businesses opened in the near proximity .

Let hope if anything it was a great bit of advertising for them!

After the good customer service we received off the boss and the lads in Plumbits recently I certainly recommend them and hope this has actually been a bit of good advertising for them.

 

[ATJ]

It does seem to be an exceptionally daft case. I wonder if the 'local solicitors' are challenging because they (or a company they represent) were refused permission for their own sign so picked on Plumbits as 'they've done it, why can't we' and instead of allowing both, SBC are disallowing both.

I do think it worth mentioning that Stafford Co-op is closing down because that arm of the business has been losing co-op money for years and all shops specialising in home and clothing are closing. That's not a rate issue.