Douglas traders will be banned from advertising their business on the pavement outside their premises from the end of June 2017.

Councillors have voted to adopt a 'zero tolerance' stance to A-boards.

The 2017 deadline has been set so that existing three-year licences will not be affected.

Council Leader David Christian said: 'We have become increasingly concerned about the proliferation of A-boards throughout the town centre. Many are positioned indiscriminately on the highway, causing a potential hazard, particularly to the visually impaired or people with limited mobility, despite the conditions we impose on licences requiring the boards to be placed directly in front of shop premises.
They also make it difficult for our cleansing teams to clean the streets in the main shopping area.

'There is also the aesthetic factor. A-boards do nothing for the street scene; they merely litter the town centre regeneration area in which the Council and its government partners are investing heavily to create a visually appealing uncluttered environment that will attract visitors and new business and also generate increased retail activity.

'While we acknowledge trading conditions remain challenging the Council is firmly of the opinion that, unlike pavement cafes, A-boards provide no added value and do not project a positive “open for business” image for the town centre.'

The move won't affect pavement cafe licences.

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