Advertising boards for businesses around Yarm are causing a headache for less mobile high street visitors.

That was the message sounded at this week’s Yarm Town Council meeting after resident Brian Newcombe told of troubles he’d faced taking his mother-in-law to be around the town. Past meetings have heard how a “high street audit” is continuing to map the town centre, and how accessible it is to those using wheelchairs or people with mobility issues.

But Mr Newcombe said they could “hardly move” last weekend due to A-boards, tables and chairs. He added: “It’s not just tables and chairs now – there are barriered areas. There was a traffic jam at one point with people trying to get past.

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“Why isn’t the council getting out there and stopping these people?” Chairman Cllr John Coulson said officials had been out with tape measures to check recently.

Town clerk Juliet Johnson recalled councillors had raised the same issues in the past. She said: “Clearly businesses want to advertise what they are doing but it’s unacceptable if there is a disability access issue.”

Previous meetings have heard how “blue dots” for the pavement have been suggested for Yarm to ensure businesses don’t block routes or stray from their land. But Ms Johnson told councillors Stockton Council were still not happy for the pavements to be marked.

She added: “What they have done is they came down on a Tuesday and they reported 11 out of 12 businesses had some non-compliance – so they are on it and they are watching it. It’s helpful if we can feed in photos or information so they can tackle where it’s happening.”

Cllr Coulson said he could attest to what Mr Newcombe had reported. He added: “I water 68 hanging baskets in the High Street and when you’re pushing a trolley with three barrels carrying anywhere between 15 to 18 gallons on them, and you have to negotiate these things, I can attest to what Brian is saying and it needs sorting.”

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He later added there was one particular A-board on the High Street which was nearly as big as the clerk. Stockton Council confirmed there had been no recent complaints to its enforcement teams about A-boards in Yarm.

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