Cheshire East Council’s enforcement team has received a list of Sandbach shops whose signage allegedly breaches strict conservation area regulations.
The clampdown follows an outcry from residents over two new shops that opened on the corner of Green Street and Congleton Road earlier this month.
Fresh Fades Studio barbers and Marvel Corner Shop caused “more engagement from residents” than current mayor Coun John Arnold said he had ever seen – including parking charges – after the two shops put up “garish” signs on their shop fronts.
The signs were later removed and replaced following the social media outcry.
The business owner also apologised saying that he was unaware that the premises were in a conservation area.
As reported recently, Victoria Knox, who owns Lady Victoria barbers on High Street, said Cheshire East’s enforcement officers had “come down on her like a tonne of bricks” when she opened her shop in 2016.
She said: “They were there as soon as I was doing any renovations, telling me what I could and couldn’t do.
“They said I couldn’t have any other colour than cream or white, I couldn’t put up a barber’s pole outside or have any advertising.
“Next door tried to paint their shop green, but complaints went into the council, and they had to change it to white again.”
She felt the council’s enforcement team seemed to have become “lax” since covid.
She said: “My problem is that these shops aren’t in keeping with the town. We live in a market town and it’s starting to look like Nantwich Road in Crewe – and that’s not where I want to live.”
When Marvel Corner Shop first opened its doors, bongs were on display in the window, but these were quickly replaced with toys after the outcry on social media.
Ms Knox said: “Who are they trying to attract? People don’t want another vape shop – they don’t want shops that are encouraging young people to go in and buy energy drinks and vapes.”
At the September meeting of the full town council, new town clerk Peter Turner said he wanted “action” from Cheshire East.
He said: “We are seeking that (Cheshire East officers) come physically into town, not just meet with us remotely. That they walk around, understand our concerns and recognise the need for action, with some alacrity, and see if we can make positive outcomes.”
He said he hoped to work with planning experts to put in a process, which would have new business owners submit the signage they planned to put up in the town centre, before it was installed.
“The intent will be to have some form of advisory opportunity for any new potential investment when applying to make changes to buildings.
“And that with the support of the experts we can then provide to landlords, who will then provide to vacant properties that anyone goes into.”
Coun Arnold said: “The clerk has been kind enough to submit our complaints to Cheshire East’s enforcement team for all of the premises – not just the new ones – that are infringing the rules, and has asked their enforcement people to take action.
“We want the town to be the beautiful heritage town that it is, so we are going to do our best to make sure that the rules are enforced and that anyone new opening up in the town is aware of the rules.”
