I WRITE in support of Ged Bell and Maureen Cox over the Dringhouses traders who have had to remove their signs from a tree because they "obstructed the highway" ('Traders furious at order to move sign', June 9).

It is true that we would not want uncontrolled signs erected everywhere. On the other hand, we all support local shops - at least by lip service - and those which are not on main roads are at a serious disadvantage.

I understand the signs, during the short period they were up, led to a noticeable increase in trade. Perhaps the council should reconsider policy and encourage such traders to put up tasteful signs on the nearest main road instead of preventing them.

New industrial estates, often sponsored by their local council, always have a sign at the main entrance naming all the tenants so why not local shops?

Tony Ridge,

Moorgate,

Holgate, York.

...THE report in the Evening Press about City of York Council refusing to allow traders to have an advertising board tied to a tree comes as no surprise.

The council pretends to support local traders but then goes out of its way to put them out of business! The lame- headed excuses are embarrassing in their stupidity.

There is no such ban on the advertising boards of the big, wealthy and powerful companies who can put distracting signs on major routes such as the York Business Park at Poppleton.

And if you have enough clout you can have a series of adverts on busy roundabouts: not large signs which can be seen at a quick glance but small ones, small enough to ensure motorists have to concentrate on them as they negotiate the roundabouts instead of watching conflicting traffic.

Such hypocrisy defies belief, but that's the city council for you.

Keith Smith,

Brackenhills,

Upper Poppleton, York.

Updated: 10:48 Tuesday, June 19, 2001