TRADERS in Taunton are being reminded to make sure advertising boards outside their shops are not causing a hazard to shoppers or traffic.

Guidelines from Somerset County Council state that A-boards should not be more than 50cm wide and should not protrude more than 50cm from the shop.

They say signs should not be more than one metre high and there should only be one board per shop premises.

A spokesman for Somerset County Council said they understand the needs of small businesses to attract custom but state they have an ‘overriding duty’ as a highways authority to ensure safe access for road users.

The spokesman added: “In Taunton we have been liaising with traders, the Chamber of Commerce and Taunton Deane Borough Council during the summer and reissued our guidelines on A-boards.

“Where A-boards are inappropriately located we will talk to the retailer to ask them to keep them in a more reasonable position.

“If a complaint is made, we would send someone out to advise the owner to keep the A-board in a more appropriate place or if they refuse, to remove them.”