A BUSINESSMAN claims he will have to shut up shop because Bolton Council is forcing him to remove directional adverts to his warehouse.

Zaheer Ahmed, who runs Victory Mill Carpets in Grundy Road, off Longcauseway, Farnworth, says that eight full-time jobs are on the line following the council's move.

According to Mr Ahmed potential customers would be unable to locate the warehouse without the signs pointing out where it is.

"We might as well close the door and shut down now," he said.

"The only way anyone finds the place is through the signs. Without them we are finished. There won't be any customers coming in because they won't be able to find us."

The two signs that Mr Ahmed has been told to remove are on private property. One is attached to Farnworth & Kearsley Labour Club in Longcauseway and one is hanging from the gable end wall of a private house in Bolton Road, Kearsley.

Mr Ahmed said: "They have been up for more than two years without any problem and now this. It is not as though they are illuminated or anything. It's vital that we have those signs. No signs - no customers."

A spokesman for Bolton Council's environment department said the order to take down the signs followed a complaint made to the department.

It was found that the signs had been put up without permission and that they contravened advertising regulations.

He said: "Mr Ahmed has now submitted an application asking for permission to keep the signs but the form is incomplete."

He added that the forms would be returned to Mr Ahmed and that he would be advised to look at alternative locations for the directional adverts.

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