Style cops give signs the chop

A list of business signs that have not been approved are on the chopping block following a meeting of the Grahamstown Aesthetics Committee.

July’s report listed illegal and unprofessional signage after inspections were conducted at six shops. A majority of the shops were situated in Bathurst Street.

Street Fever in High Street was one of the shops instructed to remove its signage immediately according to letters issued last month by the Building Control Officer, Clive Christian.

Speaking on behalf Street Fever, Farhaana Rawat confirmed that the family-owned business was aware of the matter and has contacted their signage company to apply for signage that complies with the requirements. Christian made arrangements for the signage to be removed on Wednesday after the owner failed to send him proof of an undertaking for the removal of the signage.

“I have been battling now for more than a month for them to remove the signs,” he said.

The owners will have to pay back the cost of the removal, after which the signs will be returned. If they fail to do this, it will be levied to the owners’ rates account.

Christian explained that Grahamstown signs may not be more than 60cm high. Signage cannot be put up above an awning or overhang of a building and no brand names or contact details should appear on the signs.

Exceptions for contact details on signage are reserved for businesses such as doctors, veterinarian practices and B&Bs. He also mentioned that buildings are not to have more than one sign per façade and it is important that there is some consistency in terms of the look and size of signage in the CBD, keeping in line with Grahamstown’s historic buildings.

“We will clamp down on a lot of existing signage and banners,” that do not comply with the standard requirements, Christian said.

He said the Street Fever signage will not be approved until the owner covers the costs of the removal.

Style police
During the Aesthetics Committee meeting it was mentioned that there are certain signs facing New Street and Allen Street that have not been brought to the attention of this committee, such as the sign on the newly built KFC outlet.

Acting Chairperson of the meeting, Democratic Alliance councillor Michael Whisson previously stated that the KFC sign does not comply with the standard size of signage in Grahamstown and the owner should be taken to court as they have spoken to him about this issue before.

Developer Rob Beer, owner of the KFC building, says “[the]Aesthetics Committee has a job to do and they must do it.” From his personal perspective he believes that the committee is very subjective.

“To impose the views of the committee on such a diverse community is questionable. I sincerely hope that the members of the committee are truly representative of the entire Grahamstown community,” Beer said.

Whisson explained that there are signage regulations in place which guide that signage is done professionally and in line with the heritage and historically sensitive environment of Grahamstown. It has particular responsibilities towards the historic area bounded by Beaufort, Somerset, African Streets and the railway line. He added that there are often battles with franchises- which are provided with all the merchandise the business requires – and the signage they receive is sometimes not in line with the regulations already in place.