A restaurant owner in Chepstow, Wales, is facing the possibility of losing thousands of pounds due to a dispute over a sign outside her establishment. Yoon Hoe Yee, the owner of Hikari, a sushi and noodle bar, was instructed by Monmouthshire County Council to remove the advertising sign, which spans the width of her restaurant. The council deemed the sign to be out of place with the surrounding street aesthetics. Despite Ms. Hoe Yee’s appeal to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), the decision to remove the sign was upheld.
Ms. Hoe Yee expressed her astonishment at the council’s ruling, stating that the cost of removing the sign and installing a new one could significantly impact her business financially. The sign, featuring the restaurant’s name with images of sushi and a ramen bowl, seems unremarkable at first glance on the quaint street where Hikari is located alongside other local businesses. However, PEDW described the sign as an “unsympathetic contemporary addition” that detracts from the traditional appearance of the area.
Facing financial concerns, Ms. Hoe Yee offered to compromise by removing the food images from the sign but was still denied permission to keep the advertising. The appeal process, overseen by independent inspector Christopher Sweet, did not consider the economic implications on the business, focusing instead on the sign’s visual impact. Mr. Sweet concluded that the sign’s appearance clashed with the street’s character and was detrimental to the conservation area.
The rejection of the appeal has left Ms. Hoe Yee at a loss, unsure of the next steps to take. With the sign costing £3,000 and business already struggling, the prospect of further financial strain is causing distress. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by small business owners in maintaining their establishments while adhering to local regulations and preserving the heritage of the area.
The case of Hikari restaurant serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between business promotion and heritage preservation in local communities. As Ms. Hoe Yee navigates the impact of the sign dispute on her restaurant, the story sheds light on the complexities of running a small business in a changing environment.