WE have been extremely grateful for the tremendous support from your readers and our customers since the article "Signs row trader may quit the city" (September 26).

The response from Cliff Carruthers of City of York Council was to be expected. He is right to say that our shop is grade II listed. What he fails to mention is that advertising in the form of small flags and latterly fixed signs has been in place outside our shop for more than ten years without challenge.

The created precedent that has been arrogantly dismissed has far reaching human repercussions which the planning officials give no indication they have considered. Livelihoods and jobs are at risk throughout the city as a result of their actions.

Having "improved the appearance for the benefit of all the occupants of and visitors to the locality" (planning enforcement officer) by the removal of advertising from shops, we wonder what the true benefits are? Visitors to our city expect to be able to buy ice cream, films etc, but now don't know where to go to purchase them.

What follows is the city economy in decline, no money in the tills and shops closing. An empty shop means no business rates in the council coffers, reduced salary budgets and possible redundancies amongst planning officials. At that stage will a more realistic thought process prevail?

By then it will be too late for shops like ours and the general public will be deprived of a worthwhile service.

DJ Milner,

Monk Bar Newsagency,

Goodramgate, York.

Updated: 10:45 Monday, October 06, 2003