AN ANGRY trader is shutting up shop and getting out of Bolton town centre because she is "sick and tired of the hassle."

A closing down sale is underway at Romany Crafts on Markland Street, off Newport Street, because a wrangle over shop signs has forced Mary Holt to run out of patience.

The trouble began when Mrs Holt's landlord began improvement work on the shop front.

Before that, the shop had a large sign between ground and first floor level which was visible from surrounding streets. Mrs Holt said: "I was told that a condition of the improvement work for the planning regulations was that only a much smaller sign would be allowed to keep the shop front 'aesthetically pleasing.'

"I couldn't believe it. Once that sign was down trade dropped off. People were obviously under the impression that we had closed. I can't afford to keep on trading."

The sign came down in February and since then shop takings have been terrible, Mrs Holt said.

As reported in the BEN, Mrs Holt last year blasted town hall officials for not investing in the Newport Street and Great Moor Street end of the town centre. She added: "I look around town and I can see large signs on other businesses all over the place. It doesn't seem fair to me.

"There's been discussion in the BEN about how Bolton can fight off the Trafford Centre. In my opinion if Bolton wants to become a shopping desert it's going the right way about it.

"This is not some picturesque place where tourists come flocking like Stow-on-the-Wold. "It's a diverse, modern shopping centre and there's got to be the right balance."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "The landlord approached us with a scheme for the refurbishment of the two shops in the property, the wool shop and the craft shop.

"Signage is an issue and is open to discussion and we have offered several times to attend a meeting with the landlord and the tenants to get the matter resolved amicably. That offer is still on the table."

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