main content Bread and butter cafe pays out dough over pavement obstruction

The owner of the Bread and Butter Café at Locksbottom, has been ordered to pay fines and costs of £150 for obstructing the highway with an advertising board. At Bromley Magistrates Court last week, Mr Stephen Tanner pleaded guilty to standing a board, advertising the café’s daily specials, on the edge of the pavement near his shop in Crofton Road.

“It might seem like harmless advertising but traders need to be aware of the safety implications of their actions. Standing an advertising board on the edge of the pavement not only distracts drivers and obstructs pedestrians but could be potentially lethal if the board was to fall into the road” said Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager.

During the hearing on 21 April, the Court was informed that Mr Tanner had been warned about the adverting board in November last year. A Street Services Enforcement Officer had seen the café board displaying ‘today’s special’, standing next to roadside railings in Crofton Road. Mr Tanner was unavailable to speak to at the time, so a letter was sent advising that the board was obstructing the highway and asking for it to be removed. After a follow-up visit in January 2005 revealed the advertising board was still in place, legal action was taken.

To report a highway obstruction or other street problem, call the Street Services Help desk on 020 8313 4621.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Communications Advisor on 020 8461 7670 e-mail: andrew.rogers@bromley.gov.uk or Peter Turvey, Enforcement and Technical Support Manager on 020 8313 4901.

Further information is available at www.bromley.gov.uk/neatstreet.