A-board row ends in deadlock

And while Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade says it is encouraged by the fact that talks have taken place, a leading Blackburn with Darwen councillor says the policy of removing advertising from the streets will continue.

Chamber co-ordinator Rita Wakeley said: "We are glad that the council has started to talk to us and we are encouraged by the talk of compromise. We discussed different forms of street displays and advertising which might be workable. But the new solutions the council proposed did not meet with our approval.

"We understand that the law is there to protect the interests of blind and disabled people.

"But the disabled people we have spoken to say they find displays helpful, and we want to find a solution which genuinely gives those people what they want and helps traders too." Regeneration committee chairman Councillor Andy Kay said: "It is up to the Chamber of Trade. "We have been falling over backwards to try and solve the problem. We have put forward some new ideas and it is up to them whether they decide to support them.

"I thought we had ironed out our differences. There are certain things we can do, but some of the proposals the chamber are making are not possible because they are against the law.

"Our position is perfectly clear. The issue is not whether it is in the interests of traders for goods to be displayed but whether it is safe for goods to be displayed.

"We are trying to safeguard the interests of people who are blind and disabled. The disabled access group we are in contact with has been fully supportive of our policy.

"We all recognise there are difficulties we need to resolve. But our general principle is still getting advertising off the footpaths.

"We may be able to reach some sort of compromise, but we will never be able to satisfy everyone."

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