Sandwich boards

Rufina

I have a new shop with 3 large shop windows. 3 nearby competitors place their sandwich boards directly outside my shop blocking my own sandwich board. I don't think this is acceptable but is there any legal issue here? I pay my rent and my rates for my shop so I would assume it's very bad manners (and more) for the other 3 rival businesses to place their advertising directly outside my shop. One recent customer asked me if the name of my shop was the name of one of the rivals because their sign is so in your face. Any advice?

doublej

Neither you or any of your neighbours have any entitlement to place sandwich boards on the pavement outside your premises.
In a number of local authority areas, Bye laws have been adopted to give effect to Sections of a local authority planning act which allows councils and UDC's actually charge for advertising signs both fixed and free standing.
You may wish to consider whether the placing of a sandwich board on a pavement is fair to Blind people and those with buggies or wheelchairs.
I know that none of the above solves your dilemma but it is worth considering the overall effect of your signage problem rather than focussing on your own needs . I am aware that this sounds very blunt, I mean no offence and genuinely wish you well in your business.

Peregrinus

You should contact your local authority and ask if there are any bye-laws in place which would be relevant. If your shop is in a shopping centre, then you should check the terms of your own lease to see what it says that might be relevant - you can assume your competitors' leases say the same thing - and speak to the centre managers.

In general there's no right to leave things in the public highway. The highway includes the pavement as well as the carriageway. If it impedes anybody's passage along the highway it's a niusance, and can be abated. (I.e. they can move or take away the sandwich board themselves; they don't need the owner's permission.) However if road users are not objecting to it as an obstruction, you don't have any right to object on the basis that it's outside your property (unless there is something about that in any applicable bye-laws).

ScouseMouse

I have a moneygram sign outside and the litter warden threatened me as it was unauthorised.

Maybe a call to them (but that could also stop you)