THE controversy over businesses’ use of A-boards is again in the spotlight again this week.

From next month the advertising boards will be banned from pavements, a move which Stockbridge chippy owner Ray Crummack says will damage his trade.

Whilst he has a loyal client base, like many similar outlets he also relies heavily on passers-by spotting the shop and calling in.

You can fully appreciate the desire of disability groups to keep pavements as clutter-free as possible, but there are many other ‘obstacles’ which if anything pose more of a safety hazard than A-boards.

How often do we as pedestrians find our way blocked by a parked vehicle, and have to step out into the road?

How frequently do you trip on an uneven or badly repaired bit of pavement?

In most cases, A-boards are sited extremely close to shop frontages, leaving ample space for pedestrians.

Surely this is a classic instance where common sense should prevail and a compromise solution can be found.

Provided a board is not posing a blatant obstruction and there is plenty of room to pass, is it really a problem?