A landlord has slammed highways officials for removing chalkboard signs directing them to his country pub - which were designed to boost trade amid the financial crisis. Tim Young, 51, created signs to advertise his boozer's deals in order to drum up more business as the industry faces mounting pressure.
He displayed two boards in a hedgerow beside the A358 with one showing the pub would be open Wednesdays to Sundays. The other was advertising Thursday fish and chip night at the Farmer's Arms pub in Combe Florey, Somerset.
But he was left shocked when a highways officer removed the signs and returned them to the pub - claiming they were 'breaching highways laws'. Tim put the signs out again on Thursday but a highways officer removed them again and took them away without returning them.
Tim has now hit out at Somerset County Council for removing the signs as he had seen an influx in customers thanks to the boards. He is desperately trying to bring in more trade for the pub amidst the cost of living crisis.
Tim said: "Three pubs around us have closed. We are literally the last pub standing. We are desperately trying to keep afloat and keep going, but not aided by Somerset County Council Highways who won't even talk to us.
"We desperately don't want to close. Our electric has doubled and everything else has gone up too - even your beef, pork and chicken for the Sunday roasts. Cooking oil has doubled in cost, beers and ales have gone up by several pounds a cask, and there's only so much you can pass on to the customer because they're suffering as well.
"The government are not showing any help towards rural country pubs. VAT is at 20% - it's killing us. People come in when they see our signs. This is a tourist area, people don't know there's a pub here, so when they see a sign for 'pub next left', people come in off the road.
"It's very annoying. The council needs to understand that businesses that employ people need help - they can't just take our signs and not give them back."
A spokesperson for Somerset County Council said: "We have been in contact with the business owner to explain that the signs in question are not permitted under highway legislation which is why they were removed. We do understand however the importance of being able to advertise and we’ve had constructive discussions about where the signs can be legally and safely placed.
"The signs are available for collection and we will be arranging this with the owner."
