Oswaldtwistle's gun shop

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by Doug

I’m getting a little confused, just how prominent is this sign and why does it create the wrong impression. Can someone oblige by taking a couple of photographs of the offending signage A, from outside the shop “Close up” and from across the road, perhaps Rindy or Neil could stand in front of the shop “not in front of the Sign” to give us some sense of scale. A couple of shots from up and down the road might also be of interest in making a judgement on the issue.

I'm sorry but is there only me and Garinda here who can understand what sort of impression this gives of the town? I know it sounds like we're obsessed with 'image' but it means a lot - particularly when you're talking about a town. Tell me, Doug, imagine a town somewhere else in England that you've never visited before, would you make a point of visiting it if you thought it had an image of being a good place to go shopping for guns?

[Roy]

While we are here gayle, why not shoot down the evil pubs that are on union road. How dare they give ossy the image that you can get drunk and puke on the floor.
Oh yes, there are also a few indian restaurants on union road! What kind of image is that to give the folks of Oswaldtwistle. I have to admit, I daren't tell the in laws that I used to live in a town with indian restaurants in it.

Lets think, what other perfectly legal things can we pick on?

The people are just trying to make an honest buck in a dieing town, whats wrong with advertising your products with a huge sign if its allowed? I notice the theatre does this, that gives a bad impression to all the lovely people buying guns, I don't think they should have to see the evil of amateur dramatics when all they want to do is buy an air rifle and shoot some cats.

[Tealeaf]

Gayle is quite right on this. This shop has an absolutely garish neon sign more in keeping with a gun store in Osceola, Arkansas rather than Oswaldtwistle near Accrington. But worse still are it's contents - they are simply manually loaded air pistols & rifles - cat & rat killers,and nowt else. (No shotguns, gas cartridge guns - certainly no conventional rifles & handguns).
It is the only shop with such a type of sign & it is totally out of keeping with the other outlets on Union Road. I am at a loss how the council has allowed this. Irrespective of whether this is a conservation area or not, I am quite certain that planning permission is neccessary to erect such a structure. It should be removed immeadiatly.

[Gayle]

No Tealeaf, planning permission isn't required apparently - I thought it was but I looked into it and was told it wasn't.

[Tealeaf]

Originally Posted by Gayle

No Tealeaf, planning permission isn't required apparently - I thought it was but I looked into it and was told it wasn't.

Are you sure? I know that down here (Tower hamlets), application to erect any illuminated sign outside commercial premises has to be made to the council and permission then granted or not. Is this not a national rule?

[Gayle]

I asked the people in HBC planning dept and apparently they were aware of the sign but there was nothing they could do because they didn't need permission!

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Gayle

I'm sorry but is there only me and Garinda here who can understand what sort of impression this gives of the town? I know it sounds like we're obsessed with 'image' but it means a lot - particularly when you're talking about a town. Tell me, Doug, imagine a town somewhere else in England that you've never visited before, would you make a point of visiting it if you thought it had an image of being a good place to go shopping for guns?

Roy does have a point, unfortunately so does everyone else. What is the opinion of the other shop keepers Gayle and for that matter HBC? Regardless to whether or not they can do anything about it, what’s there view on the matter. Without seeing it it’s hard to comment but I would have thought that Oswaldtwistle had other problems that needed seeing to. The one thing I would ask is, is there an increase in the shooting of wildlife or domestic animals in the area resulting form this advertising are is there evidence that despite the unease your showing the shop owner is selling his stock responsibly, my last point is have you are Rindy gone and discussed your concerns with the shop keeper?

[garinda]

I would Doug, as it's only five minutes walk away, but I don't have a digital camera, and the lead from my webcam won't stretch that far.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Roy

While we are here gayle, why not shoot down the evil pubs that are on union road. How dare they give ossy the image that you can get drunk and puke on the floor.
Oh yes, there are also a few indian restaurants on union road! What kind of image is that to give the folks of Oswaldtwistle. I have to admit, I daren't tell the in laws that I used to live in a town with indian restaurants in it.

Lets think, what other perfectly legal things can we pick on?

The people are just trying to make an honest buck in a dieing town, whats wrong with advertising your products with a huge sign if its allowed? I notice the theatre does this, that gives a bad impression to all the lovely people buying guns, I don't think they should have to see the evil of amateur dramatics when all they want to do is buy an air rifle and shoot some cats.

That's rubbish. I've nothing against people from making an honest living. It just seems incongrous that such a large illuminated sign should be sticking out into the main road, yet directly across from this shops aren't allowed to have shutters on their windows to protect them from vandals because it'as a conversation area.

As anyone actually been into the shop? I have, and most of their trade comes from selling tools. I would have the same objections to the sign if it said tools for sale.

As for Oswaldtwistle being a dieing town in your words, you'll be pleased to hear that house prices are still rising. It's not dieing, it's just becoming a satellite town for people to live here, but work else where throughout the northwest.

[Gayle]

I will try and get a pic tonight.