Guarded welcome given to shop's plan to stop antisocial rough sleepers bedding down in doorway
Town councillors have cautiously welcomed a shop boss's plans to put security screens across his shop front to deter anti-social behaviour.
Halon Menswear has put in an application for the screens at its Grade II-listed home in High Street, Shrewsbury and councillors sympathise with the plight of the business but want to see if other options are available for the screens.
A meeting of Shrewsbury Town Council's planning committee on Tuesday was told that Shrewsbury Civic Society says that a white gate would be too intrusive to the visible street scene out of hours.
Councillor Nat Green, who represents the town centre, said he had "sympathy" with the shop owner and with town businesses that have been hit by anti-social behaviour. But he said it could be a "better colour".
"In principle I don't see anybody arguing against the application but we do need to see what is available for the gate," he said. "It is a beautiful shop front."
The committee agreed.
A comment from Michael Dinneen, of Shrewsbury Civic Society, has been lodged with Shropshire Council planners, who will be called on to have the final say.
He writes: "Shrewsbury Civic Society would support this application - in principle - and we do sympathise with the business and its employees.
"However, we feel that a white gate would be too intrusive to the visible street scene out of hours and, presumably, on Sundays as well. We have a similar concern as to the prominence of the gate posts during the day."
