Wolverhampton estate agent hits out at council as flower bid wilts
An estate agent whose company has been based in Wolverhampton since the early 1950s has hit out at council bosses who want to charge him to put a flower planter outside his office.
Terry Close said he wanted to do something to spruce up the "shabby" city centre near his company's offices in King Street. But he was told he could only put out one planter and would have to pay £25 a year for the privilege.
He is now considering whether or not to move the office of Jackson Lile and Close to the suburbs along with his eight staff.
New rules on the use of A-boards and tables and chairs in the city centre will come into effect in April and anyone wanting to put anything on the street needs to pay £25 a year per item.
Mr Close, who has been at the company since 1966, said: "I'm so outraged by this decision. The council should be encouraging traders. It should be putting plants out itself anyway. But I offered to do it and I'm told I have to pay for doing so.
"The city centre is looking so dreadfully shabby at the moment. We've only just spent a lot of money on the frontage of the building. I'm now considering alternative premises somewhere else in Wolverhampton.
"King Street is one of the few remaining Georgian streets. They're Grade II listed buildings.
"I'm not worried about the A-boards but I find it outrageous that they don't support putting tasteful planters right against the building so they're not a trip hazard to make the street look attractive. To be told we can have just one is nonsense."
Colin Parr, Wolverhampton City Council's licensing manager, said: "The policy is applicable across the city centre and will come into effect from April 1 before it is rolled out across the rest of Wolverhampton.
"The policy was agreed by members after it had been the subject of a robust and thorough consultation process involving trader representative groups, residents and visitors to the city centre.
"This was also promoted in the local media and on the council website.
"This is not a money-making exercise. It is about enhancing shopping areas and making them more attractive to encourage more visitors to come to our city centre."
