Security essential when letting a retail premises

Posted under News by Jermaine

Security is paramount in today’s society, and especially when you’re talking about your own business premises, as it’s your livelihood on the line. Those who let out retail outlets in the high street need to safeguard their premises, their stock and their business so that crime doesn’t ruin any of the good work they’ve managed to build up.

One business owner in East Staffordshire however is being ordered by the council to take down the roller shutters that he has used to protect his business from crime. Phil ’Cutter’ Waldron has opened up a hair salon on the site of what used to be a trophy shop, and has installed roller shutters to the front of his premises in order to safeguard his shop. He spent £1,200 on the roller shutters, but the local council has ruled that he should have applied for planning permission before installing the security measure, and he must take it down again.

Mr Waldron argues that the area is blighted with vandalism, and the shutters are essential to protect his business.

The shop was in a tatty state when I took it over and I’ve spent a lot of money renovating it and improving the look of this whole row of shops.

You regularly see shops along here with smashed windows, caused by people walking back from town after a night’s drinking.

Surely a roller-shutter looks better than having a window boarded up or smashed, and the shutters are not even visible between 8am and 8pm, when the shop is open.

Now Mr Waldron has to pay to have the shutters taken down, apply for planning permission, then if successful pay to have them put back up!

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