Shopkeepers warned to avoid 'garish' colours

Traders in four Lincolnshire market towns have been urged to follow new guidance on shopfront designs.

South Kesteven District Council said the updated Shopfront Design Guide applied to the historic centres of Stamford, Bourne, Grantham and Market Deeping.

It discourages the use of bright or garish colours and certain types of projecting signs.

The authority said the new guide - which updates previous guidance drawn up more than 20 years ago - had been issued following incidents in Stamford.

In February, the council ordered Peters’ Cleaners on St Paul’s Street in Stamford to repaint its shopfront.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the company’s use of orange and blue paint, along with a vinyl window dressing, was deemed harmful to the heritage value of the listed building.

Councillor Phil Dilks (Independent), cabinet member for planning, said that while the council already had Shopfront Design Guidance Documents for Bourne, Grantham, and Stamford, these had not been updated in nearly 20 years.

“Many business owners don’t seem to be aware of relevant guidelines for shopfronts,” he told the cabinet.

“It’s all about common sense; some things are simply not appropriate in conservation areas.”

He warned that the council would take legal action, if necessary.

“At the end of the day, we will take legal action against those within the conservation areas if we have to, but we would rather people come and talk to us first,” he added.

Councillor Richard Cleaver (Independent), cabinet member for property and public engagement, said: “People are very concerned that the signage and shopfronts are appropriate and in keeping with the character of Stamford.”

The guidance, which is to be reviewed in 18 months, also notes that the use of a particular colour on a shopfront elsewhere in the town does not guarantee it will be acceptable across all areas.

It states that rigidly fixed boards or internally illuminated boxes, while common in shopping centres, rarely enhance the character of historic market towns and are unsuitable for traditional shopfronts.

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.