TRADERS in York have claimed victory in their bid to combat the credit crunch by advertising on the pavements outside their businesses.

City of York Council is to draw up a set of rules which will ultimately lead to the lifting of its controversial ban on A-boards and remove the threat of fines hanging over those who use the signs to promote their operation.

The about-turn comes after 25 Micklegate businesses joined forces to organise a petition calling for an end to the advertising embargo, put in place because of fears the boards would obstruct pavements and could lead to pedestrians suffering accidents.

Traders have hailed the decision of the council’s city strategy panel as a victory for “common sense”, as well as giving their business a needed boost after a meeting saw the rejection of recommendations that the existing A-board ban should continue.

“Intervention guidelines” detailing exactly where and how the on-pavement advertising boards can be stationed will now be compiled, although the current rules, which saw businesses threatened with a £2,500 fine if they did not remove them, will remain in place until this is completed.

“This is great news both for Micklegate businesses and those across the city,” said Kevin Jones, manager of Brigantes bar and brasserie.

“It means there will be a clear path set out for everybody to follow, and it’s important for us because we are based in a street with lots of Georgian buildings where you can’t put up big flashing neon signs.

“That means A-boards are very important to businesses here, because there are really no other ways we can get our message across. At the end of the day, this is just common sense.”

Micklegate councillor Sandy Fraser said: “This will be very helpful to businesses, particularly in the current economic climate.

“Having these guidelines will mean greater certainty for traders about what they can do about A-boards and fits in with the council’s wider objectives to encourage vibrant streets, especially the likes of Micklegate which are classed as ‘peripheral’ areas.”

Disability support groups will also have their say about the new guidelines, and Diane Roworth, chief officer of York Blind and Partially Sighted Society, said: “We would expect to be consulted on this because these boards can cause real difficulties for blind and partially sighted people.

“While we can understand traders’ arguments in terms of loss of business, we support the current policy because narrow streets and pavements are becoming more cluttered, and that means they can be hazardous and difficult to negotiate.

“It tends to be forgotten that pavements are intended for people to walk along, so I’m hopeful we can come to some sort of amicable agreement with traders where the rights of blind and partially sighted people, and other vulnerable and elderly people, are respected.”