ANGRY housewives are joining forces with fed-up shopkeepers to press council officers into a U-turn over a footpath controversy.

Traders in the Hightown area of Congleton have been told they have until tomorrow to clear the pavement fronting their shops.

The crackdown came after a member of the public complained items left in front of one of the shops on the parade were causing an obstruction.

Five businesses were served notices on Friday requiring them to remove items from the pavement, and all have reluctantly agreed to do so.

However they fear the ban on displays outside their shops will hit passing trade, which they say is vital to their businesses.

As a result they have started a petition calling on the council to reverse its decision, a petition which has attracted the names of scores of shoppers in a matter of days.

Derek Sewell from joint highways said the notices served on the shopkeepers asked them to remove any obstructions from the footpath.

He added that if the highways authority did not act in response to a complaint it could be held liable if anybody subsequently was injured by an obstruction.

The pavement outside the shops was narrow, he said, and asked any of the shopkeepers concerned to contact him if they had difficulty complying with the notice.

One of those affected by the notice, Dorothea Kendrick from Dorothea's Flowers, said the ban on outside displays would greatly affect her passibg trade.

''It is attractive outside with the flowers, which draws people to the shops in general, and if there is nothing outside people think you are closed.

''My customers cannot believe what has happened, they think it's so petty, and we have got a petition going to get the council to withdraw the notice.''

She said her flower display shelf extended 18 inches from the shop front, and in her six years at the shop no-one had complained they were unable to get past.

Bill Rowley from family butchers W and A Rowley said he displayed some concrete ornaments outside his shop, which extended 12 inches into the pavement.

''I have put things outside my shop for 12 years, we always keep it tidy and neat, and no-one has ever complained.

''I was gobsmacked when the council said I had to remove everything from the pavement.

''The council are being heavy-handed, and I will lose some passing trade, which I cannot afford to do.''

The notice also includes Jim Steele from J and A Pet Supplies, who displays bird tables and rabbit hutches outside his shop to help attract passing trade.

''I was shocked by the notice, and we want the council to reverse their decision.''

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