Devon Teashop Under Attack

WELL…….WELL………WELL…..Here’s another example of local councils in the UK throwing their weight about!!!!!

Janice Voce was told the board pointing to her remote tea shop was a "potential hazard"
to pedestrians, even though it was on an embankment with no footpath. Within days of taking it down she saw her takings slump to just £8 a day.

The sign had been in place for a year without any complaints until Devon County Council intervened but Mrs Voce, 46, said she is being left with no option but to close the Fancy That Tea Shop in the village of East Budleigh, Devon, with the loss of five jobs.

Villagers are rallying behind Mrs Voce and have drawn up a petition in protest at the local council.

Mrs Voce said: "My business is tucked away off the main road and without the sign pointing to us, no-one would know we are here.

"The sign is on a grass verge - nobody walks there and no-one in the village can understand how it is now a problem. As a result I have gone from doing a full trade and employing five people from the village to taking just £8 a day and having to get rid of all the weekday staff.

"It's a difficult time for any business and we could do with some support from the local council. I've tried to explain to them that by asking me to do this they are effectively closing me down, but no-one seems to care. I will probably be shut before the end of the week."

This harassment by a over officiate council is very close to home and not new…..Years ago my family had business in Devon that relied on signs being put on footpaths that were wide enough to drive cars on….We were constantly harassed by over enthusiastic council officials even though many of the signs were on our land!!!!……We paid a small fortune in rates and employed well over 100 people but would they listen to reason……WOULD THEY FUCK!!!!

I hope Mrs Voce does not give up and fights on.