By Carole Dennett
Island businesses are up in arms over a new council proposal that they claim is nothing more than a “money-making scam”.
The Isle of Wight Council launched a consultation on July 15 regarding plans to charge a £225 fee for A boards, which local businesses use to advertise their products and services. However, the consultation has flown under the radar, with many businesses unaware of its existence.
Initially, the council aimed to licence A boards larger than 1.5 metres (just under 5 feet) in height. However, councillors on the licencing committee expanded the scope to include all A boards, potentially impacting hundreds of Island businesses. Despite this significant change, the council has done little to inform those affected. No information about the consultation is available on the council’s website, and no press releases were sent to local media. Instead, the council claims to have notified the Chamber of Commerce and local business associations – groups that many small businesses are not members of.
Simon Cant, landlord of the Wheatsheaf and The Castle Inn, in Newport, expressed his anger, labelling the council’s actions as a “sneaky money-making scam”. He questioned the council’s commitment to genuinely seeking business input, given the lack of communication. “Buying an A board and putting it outside my business is at my cost — the council puts nothing towards it. Why should they profit from it? Licensing them will just add more costs to local businesses, and, as usual, we get nothing in return,” he said.
Andrew Tapsell, managing director of Cherry Godfrey, in Newport, and chairman of the town’s business association, echoed these concerns. “I’ve talked to businesses in Newport, Shanklin, and Ryde, and most were unaware of the current consultation. We are all dealing with increased costs, and our customers are facing the cost-of-living crisis. Another fee for businesses to bear is totally unwelcome.
“We need support to invigorate our High Streets and encourage new businesses, not more red tape.” He also pointed out that the current policing by Island Roads seems effective and noted that no businesses he spoke to were aware of any incidents caused by their A boards.
Councillor Karen Lucioni, the cabinet member responsible for licensing, also voiced reservations. “If A boards cause a nuisance or hazard, they can already be removed by Island Roads. I’m in favour of giving businesses guidance if necessary – but not charging £225 a year,” she stated.
A spokesman for the Isle of Wight Council denied that the charges were being introduced in an underhand manner, and explained: “This is not a public consultation; the council needs to prioritise contacting and responding to those directly affected. This is a consultation period, not a decision. That will be made later this year by the full council.”
He claimed that a “cross-section” of businesses had been consulted and that they had received “a large number” of responses, although he did not specify how many. When we asked how businesses not affiliated with business associations were supposed to find out about the plans, and whether the council had followed its own consultation guidelines, we did not receive an answer.
Island businesses have until Saturday, August 31, to share their views with the council by emailing licensing@iow.gov.uk or writing to County Hall.