Council takes a dislike to play cafe sign due to its 'adverse impact'

ORDER TO REMOVE SIGN DESPITE OWNER SUPPORTED BY PETITION OF 8,000 SIGNATURES

- BY LAYCIE BECK

The same building in one of its previous incarnations

(PHOTO: Google)

A COUNCIL has ordered a business owner to take down its “inappropriate” sign after stating it was made out of the wrong materials.

North Kesteven District Council has refused advertisement consent for a play cafe in Sleaford, and says its current sign “is judged to adversely impact the character” of the Grade II listed building the business is in.

Henna Karim-Sayer is a teacher and mum-of-two who recently opened The Bairns Play Cafe in the town centre.

She launched the business in August just weeks after giving birth, and hopes it can provide parents a place to socialise, an issue she experienced after having her first child.

She had the sign installed ahead of receiving permission from the council, which decided last month that it would not be granting permission, arguing that the sign “fails to accord with the design principles established for traditional shopfronts.”

The sign is on a pale pink background and says ‘the bairns’ in colourful outlined letters, with the phrase ‘it takes a village’ underneath.

Henna had the sign made by a local business, but the council says it is not allowed because it is not a hand-painted traditional sign.