Sign of the times

By Melissa Grant
A PAKENHAM business owner is outraged the Cardinia Shire Council has ordered her to remove a sign promoting her shop.
Bree Mayne, who owns Mayebury Concepts, says the ban was particularly disappointing considering the poor design of the building, as approved by the council, means she now has nowhere to place her A-frame sign.
The council has decided not to renew her permit for the sign, which expires on 30 June.
This means Ms Mayne will no longer be able to place the sign on a strip outside her shop.
“That A-frame does so much for me and the council called me and said I couldn’t have it,” Ms Mayne said.
“They said I could put signage next to my door on the face of the building. But what’s the point when I have window signage?
“I’m set back so far that it’s hard for people to see in the window. They have approved for the building to go ahead this way.”
Ms Mayne said a local laws officer advised her that people had complained about the placement of her sign.
But Ms Mayne said the paved area shouldn’t even be used by pedestrians.
“People are using the lower levels, which is the nature strip, as the footpath,” she said.
“It means my A-frame is in the way because they are not using the footpath.”
Cardinia Shire Council Local Laws manager Alan Giachin said the council had received a number of complaints from residents who said the sign blocked access to the verge alongside John Street outside the building in which Mayebury Concepts is located.
“Some of the complaints were made by people who use motorised scooters or have mobility disabilities that due to the height of the footpath and complex ramp system of the building need to use the paved verge as a safe path for travel,” he said.
“The ability to trade or advertise on the footpaths and verge areas is provided to traders where there is no compromise to community safety, accessibility or general amenity.”
Mr Giachin said the decision not to reissue the permit was purely in relation to the council meeting its obligation to maintain safe pedestrian access.