Cone king threatens to quit over sign
David O'Leary • Published 15 Jan 2010 11:31
0 Comments
Share this
Andrew Caldwell in front of his controversial sign
See also:
A COLD war has broken out after an Innerleithen ice cream man is ordered to remove his illuminated sign.
Planning officers ruled last year that shopkeeper, Andrew Caldwell, had contravened planning regulations by mounting a new sign above his parlour.
But the cone king, whose family shop has stood in Innerleithen High Street for 99 years, fought back by taking his case to the Scottish Government.
But Government Reporter Douglas Alexander this week sided with planning chiefs and dismissed his retrospective planning appeal.
Mr Caldwell is still refusing to be cowed though and has stated that if council workmen attempt to remove the £7,000 sign, he'll sell up and close the iconic business.
He said: "I'm shattered by this decision. I didn't know I needed permission until someone from the council came into the shop and told me after it was up.
"The Co-op just up the road has two even bigger illuminated signs and they've had no hassle at all. My grandfather began this business and it will kill me if the council come along and make me take the sign down then a For Sale one will be going up."
Mr Alexander visited the site, after which he considered the sign to have a 'garish and incongrous appearance that is completely at odds with the building's attractive stone frontage'.
And in conclusion he said: "Consequently it does not preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area or the integrity and setting of the listed building opposite."
However Mr Caldwell believes the whole affair to have been a charade for his benefit.
He said: "How can anyone judge an illuminated sign at 10 o'clock in the morning? We weren't allowed to explain our case at all."
Mr Caldwell is at present gathering hundreds of local signatures and intends to deliver his petition to council headquarters at Newtown St Boswells.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 15 Jan 10
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
Peeblesshire News Poll
Are you in favour of wind farms?
This Poll is now closed.
Yes (72.7%)
No (27.3%)
