A GROUP of small businesses has launched a campaign for new signs to be put up on a main York road to direct potential customers to their door.

Retailers who are tucked away in Hospital Fields Road, off Fulford Road, are calling on City of York Council to help signpost passing motorists to their hidden retail park.

But their efforts have so far had little success with the council recently clamping down on illegal signs attached to lampposts on the A19.

Whitby Oliver, one of the retailers behind the sign campaign, was established in 1897 and has been part of the business park for about 16 years.

Sue Mayman, marketing manager, said the industrial estate was a hidden gem in danger of being forgotten.

She said that businesses had been clearly signposted from the A19 until the Fulford Flats development got under way.

There was now concern that trade was being lost from would-be customers who drove past without knowing the retailers were there.

"There are about 20 retailers in Hospital Fields Road, but there's no sign at the top of the road," said Sue.

"About 15 months ago we used to have one on the A19 and all our customers knew where to come.

"We used to have a fantastic area of space where we could put huge decorative signs which grabbed people's attention. People don't just drop in any more because they don't see any sign as they are passing.

"It is extremely important we have the council's support," she said. "We need clear signage if we are going to survive.

"The bureaucracy is ridiculous. At the end of the day, it is an industrial estate. We pay our taxes. We have a right to tell people we are here. The council is killing our business.

"We are all family, small businesses. We don't have unlimited amounts of money. We need people to come in. A lot of the time shopping is a bit impulsive, but we have lost that."

A city council spokeswoman said the retail outlets were signposted at the Fulford Road junction, but added: "There was a much larger sign about ten years ago but it was located on private land and when the site was developed for flats the developer wouldn't allow the sign to be reinstated.

"The council doesn't own any land in that area where a sign could be erected. We are working with the traders to see if there is any small piece of suitable land available where a sign could be erected in the future.

"The council is taking enforcement action to remove signs that have been put up alongside the highway and could pose a distraction to motorists."