Hairdresser gets ahead in A Board sign battle

A hairdresser has gone the extra mile to reclaim his A board sign after council workers confiscated it for being unlawfully displayed.

Paul Mansfield was angered after Leicester County Council took his sign from the pavement near his hair salon. Mr Mansfield runs the Style salon in Belvoir Street, Coalville – which is off the public highway – and he put up a sign pointing customers to his door.

Highways chiefs warned him to move the sign because it was a hazard on the pavement.

However, Mr Mansfield argued that it was positioned between anti-parking bollards and was not causing any problems to pedestrians.

The sign was removed in September.

Then, after phonecalls to the council, Mr Mansfield was told he would have to drive to the Peaklands council warehouse in Measham – a 20-mile round trip – if he wanted his A board back.

Mr Mansfield said he was just happy to have his property returned.

He said: "It took a while but I got it back. It was in one of the lock-ups at the depot piled up with loads of other signs, including magnetic signs."

An undeterred Mr Mansfield said he would be thinking of other ways to advertise his business. "Van signs are good if you do lots of driving around. Fascia signs, window graphics or illuminated signs are other possibilities, I'll have to think about it."