Traders on Sefton Lane Industrial Estate have been forced to take down advertising or face fines

Jun 4 2009 by Richard Down, Maghull and Aintree Star

Roy OGrady, one of the Sefton Lane Industrial Estate business owners forced to take signs down by Sefton Council 320

TRADERS fighting the ravages of the recession are furious the council has banned them from using their advertising signs.

Business people on Sefton Lane Industrial Estate claim their shops rely on passing trade from the busy through road into Maghull centre.

But they have now been forced to remove signs that direct traffic to their stores or face £2,500 fines and forcible removal by Sefton Council which likens their adverts to illegal fly-posting.

Many of the trader’s adverts were attached to the fencing of Neptune Aquatics, owned by Roy O’Grady.

Mr O’Grady, 67, said: “Business is struggling anyway.

“We spent £1,000 on a sign six months ago to attract people into our place.

“It’s no danger to anyone but we’ve been forced to take it down – it’s ridiculous.”