MADAM,

The signage and chair charges being introduced by the council are the result of a long public consultation process that started over 10 years ago.

They are not proposals as M Harmer writes in the Beacon, (‘Another burden for local traders’ 19th October) but are now county council policy in line with Government policy for England and Wales.

I’d like to remind Beacon readers that the highway includes the footway outside commercial premises and that this is for use by the public and not the traders. In addition, it is maintained by the council and not the traders therefore do not have an unalienable right to put what they want on the highway.

The previous policy imposed restrictions but it was not enforced. Many traders have demonstrated consideration for pedestrians and wheelchair users and this is appreciated but some have abused the privilege and

created conditions hazardous to pedestrians. By placing A boards and furniture outside commercial premises traders are using public space and it’s therefore not unreasonable that they pay for the right to do so as indeed they do in other towns.

Traders in Monmouthshire should consider themselves lucky that the charges imposed by Monmouthshire County Council are nowhere near as steep as those imposed by other counties.

David Hoyle

(Monmouth)