Business

Businessman owner of Wooden Floor Company to contest court action over sales signs

A large picture of the Queen erected at the civic centre building in Lisburn
A large picture of the Queen erected at the civic centre building in Lisburn A large picture of the Queen erected at the civic centre building in Lisburn

AN award-winning businessman who's been trading in Lisburn for over 10 years is contesting a "petty" court case being taken against him by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council over three 'sales' signs which were removed months ago.

Richard Snape, whose Wooden Floor Company has branches in Lisburn, Belfast, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Glasgow, appeared at Laganside courts complex yesterday in what he claims is "a pathetic waste of ratepayers' money".

A hearing has been set for three weeks time over the offending three 3ft x 2ft signs erected in January without planning permission but which have since been removed.

"The signs have long gone, but still the council insists on expensive legal action," Mr Snape told the Irish News yesterday.

"It is so hypocritical, as they don't have planning permission for several of their own banners and have been advertising everything from the Queen's 90th Jubilee to a farmers' market.

"There are many businesses who put up signs, so I don't know why they have chosen to prosecute me. I was misguided in putting them up in an effort to improve footfall in Lisburn, but I took them down again. This has now become a pathetic waste of ratepayers' money."

Mr Snape, whose Lisburn business is based at Ballinderry Road, claimed the council was being "hypocritical" and had not followed its own procedure by launching into "heavy-handed" court action instead of issuing a warning letter.

"We did not receive any warning letter which is contrary to the planning guidelines," he added.

"It's really sad that the council seems intent on stifling local businesses which have invested heavily in the area for many years.

"Our business relies on new building and development, but the message I'm getting from the business community is that they can't get plans passed in a reasonable time due to planning being under-funded and under-resourced, yet the council sees fit to use public funds to pursue a local business through the courts - even after the judge asked for mediation for which we had offered to pay costs - for a petty misdemeanour.

"I decided I needed to take a stand and speak up for local business."

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council said it was currently reviewing banner provision and "where necessary would take all steps to satisfy legislative requirements, including seeking retrospective planning consent where appropriate".

She said the former Lisburn City Council had applied to the Northern Ireland Planning Service for consent to display an advertisement banner on the rotunda building at Lagan Valley Island in May, 2010, and in July the same year was formally advised that consent was not necessary."

A court date was set yesterday for June 21.