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Businesses at an industrial estate in Workington have been told by their landlord that their exterior signage will be removed and replaced, raising concerns about how trade will be affected
Business owners at an industrial estate in Workington, Cumbria, have voiced concerns after being ordered to remove outdoor advertising signage from their units.
A number of companies based at the Buddle Road section of the Clay Flatts industrial estate have received letters from their landlord, Northern Trust, stating that their signage would be removed at the end of March to be replaced with more ‘uniform’ signage.
Many of the businesses have raised concerns about the money they have already spent on the signage, the impact that the signage removal will have on their trade, and what they see as unequal treatment in how the process is being carried out.
Northern Trust says that it is fully funding the new signage installations themselves, as part of a rebranding programme.
Elvin Jarvis, branch manager for one of the affected businesses, CHP Supplies, claims that larger national companies at the estate including Toolstation and Howdens Joinery have not had letters about their signage.
Some of the occupants have reportedly asked Northern Trust to be moved on to the same contracts as these national companies. However, they were told this would not be possible due to the core terms of the occupancy being too dissimilar.
Speaking to local newspaper, News and Star, Jarvis says: "It’s absolutely ridiculous. All we are trying to do is advertise our businesses because there is no advertising from our landlords… It's not a retail park – it's an industrial estate with independent businesses on it. The signage is reflective of an industrial estate."
Some tenants have noted that there are more pressing issues to be dealt with on the estate including maintenance faults, potholes, and a lack of white lines on parking bays which they feel would be a better use of the landlord’s money.
Double glazing installer, Cumbria Superglaze, has been based on Buddle Road since 2007. Jason Thompson, owner of Cumbria Superglaze, says to News & Star that his company has “always put signs up and not a thing has been said” until the letter was received saying it must be removed.
Thompson estimates that Cumbria Superglaze has spent over £3,000 on its signage, which will be wasted if the company is forced to take it down.
Thompson adds: "When anybody goes to Greggs and drives past here they can see these signs. We have also got signs on the main road… There is a lot more stuff they could be doing before they start doing this."
Speaking to News & Star, a spokesperson of Northern Trust claims that the removal of the signage is part of a two-year programme across many of its estates. They say: "Over the past two years, Northern Trust has been undertaking an extensive rebranding and signage improvement programme across many of its estates.
"The aim of this programme is to ensure our business parks present a professional, consistent, and welcoming environment for all occupiers and visitors, whilst providing a fair and uniform standard for occupiers who operate on similar tenancy terms. As part of this process, unauthorised tenant signage is being removed and replaced with new dedicated signage, fully funded by Northern Trust."
