THE owner of a small business near Birdham said he is shocked after being asked to remove a sign which has been advertising his business for the last eight years without complaint.
Robert Froud contacted the Observer after receiving a letter from Chichester District Council's planning department.
The letter 'recommends' he remove the sign which is situated on the corner of Sidlesham Lane and Main Road, Birdham.
Mr Froud has been running R Froud Pine Furniture in Almodington for 25 years, and is one of many businesses in the area to have a sign on the Birdham straight.
Bringing businessHe said the sign was instrumental in generating extra business and was unhappy at receiving the letter.
It describes the sign as an 'unauthorised advertisement' and states that both advertisers and landowners are at risk of legal proceedings.
It gives Mr Froud 21 days in which to remove it.
The letter also explains that Mr Froud would be unlikely to be granted planning permission for the sign.
"Ludicrous" decisionMr Froud, of Third Avenue, said that he depended on the sign. "I think it's ludicrous.
"There are signs all the way along these roads, everyone has to advertise their business.
"The sign is away from the road and on the other side of a bramble hedge and you can hardly see it in the summer.
"I pay my business rates. How else are we going to keep in business and pay our rates and advertise? It's a handpainted sign, it's tasteful and not gaudy at all."
Advertisement controlsChichester District Council said that rural areas in the district were classed as Areas of Special Advertisement Control which restricts the size of advertisements which can be displayed without the need to apply for consent.
In a statement it said: "The council received a complaint about a cluster of signs located on private land at the junction of Sidlesham Lane and Main Road, Birdham.
"After investigation, the signs were found to be unauthorised and contravened the Control of Advertisement Regulations 2007.
"The landowner, and all companies involved, have been notified of the breach and asked to remove the signs."
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