South Downs garage gears up for fight over roadside sign

Bosses at a South Downs garage say that council officials have thrown a spanner in the works of their business.
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SivTech Garage in Storrington has displayed a directional sign on the roadside outside its premises in Pulborough Road for some years.

But Horsham District Council says the sign is ‘unauthorised advertising’ and has to go.

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However garage managing director Ashley Sivers says that customers frequently cannot find the garage if the sign is removed.

Sivtech garage owner Ashley Sivers (left), has been ordered by  Horsham District Council to take down a sign outside his business near Storrington. Pic Steve Robards SR2010023 SUS-200210-225702001Sivtech garage owner Ashley Sivers (left), has been ordered by  Horsham District Council to take down a sign outside his business near Storrington. Pic Steve Robards SR2010023 SUS-200210-225702001
Sivtech garage owner Ashley Sivers (left), has been ordered by Horsham District Council to take down a sign outside his business near Storrington. Pic Steve Robards SR2010023 SUS-200210-225702001

“The sign is obstructing nothing and is not imposing any sort of danger or limiting any space to anything or anyone,” he said.

“We use it purely for directional purposes as when we took it down, as instructed before, our customers had difficulty finding us.

“The council are making our lives very difficult, threatening court and fines etc just over this sign.

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“We feel somewhat bullied over what we consider a very trivial issue.”

He said, as a small local business during a pandemic, he felt the council had shown a ‘lack of support.’

SivTech office manager Lisa Beaven said that when they had previously removed the sign she was inundated with phone calls from customers saying they couldn’t find the garage.

“It’s ridiculous,” she said. “If it was blocking something, fair enough, but it’s not.”

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A spokesman for Horsham District Council said: “This particular incident is part of an ongoing investigation currently and it is therefore not appropriate to comment at the time being as this may jeopardise any investigation. The Council is also liaising with the Highways team at West Sussex County Council regarding this situation.”