Astrid Furniture’s sign has been banned from Council-owned land, and according to business owner Kerry Nicholls they might have to lodge a development application for the A-frame sign.

The sign saga began about two weeks ago when a compliance officer from Hawkesbury City Council informed Mr Nicholls that the sign would have to be removed because it was on Council’s property.

Mr Nicholls said the sign has been standing on the same strip of land outside his George Street business for more than 10 years.

When he originally got the sign Mr Nicholls approached the Council of the day about it, and he was told they had no issue or problem with it.

Mr Nicholls said he was told that a normal sandwich board sign would attract an application fee of $150 to obtain a permit, but that his sign is too large and he would need to lodge a development application.

While he would be quite happy to pay the fee, the time and cost of lodging a DA is something Mr Nicholls said he does not want the bother of.

He said the sign is only placed out the front during business hours, and it does not block any emergency entries or exits or pose a hazard to traffic or pedestrians. It is also covered by the business’ public liability insurance.

Whether it’s advertising a school fete, a traffic safety message, a joke, a farewell message or bereavement message; Astrid Furniture’s sign has become a member of the community in its own right.

Mr Nicholls can recall many moving and important messages, including a farewell note for a retiring Londonderry teacher.

He is still surprised about the whole ordeal and cannot quite believe that it’s even an issue.

“We’re talking about a sign on wheels,” Mr Nicholls said.

“At the end of the day I think there are far more important issues in the Hawkesbury than signage.”

The Gazette contacted Hawkesbury Council about the sign, but Council was unable to provide comment by the time of going to print.