Traders express concern about clamp down on goods outside shops

The Government has written to Main Street traders asking them to remove any goods they may have displayed outside their premises, claiming it's unsightly.

It says a handful of businesses have made representations, with the Government happy to afford them time to make adjustments.

The Government says that if results are not noticeable, it will have no choice but to enforce the law, even though it's not its favoured approach.

The government has notified the GFSB and the Chamber that it will be taking measures to ensure a cleaner look and feel for Main Street. For many retailers, displaying goods outside their shops to attract customers in, is something they've done for decades. 

In a letter to traders, the Office of Fair Trading says the restrictions are part of wider plans to make Main Street Casematesand Chatham Counterguard more vibrant and attractive.