A COUNCIL chief has pledged new guidelines banning roll-down shutters from shop windows will not leave businesses unprotected.

Next month, the council is to adopt new guidance aimed at making shopfronts in the town centre and borough more attractive.

But the draft rules, largely drawn up by the Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust, states security screens are “unacceptable”, because “they have a detrimental effect upon the appearance of the area and aggravate a perception of danger”.

Instead, the guidance states, toughened or laminated glass should be used, except in special circumstances.

Ron Levy, who runs Colchester Barber Shop, in St Botolph’s Street, said he installed shutters three years ago after his window was smashed three times, costing him more than £300 to repair each time.

Mr Levy, secretary of the Colchester and Retail Business Association, said he agreed with most of the new guideliness.

However, he said small businesses needed the security offered by shutters in places like St Botolph’s Street, where there are a number of bars and clubs.

He added: “Shopkeepers must be allowed to protect their windows from late-night revellers who seem to great joy in kicking windows in.”

Nick Barlow, councillor responsible for commerce, said: “The guidance is not retrospective – we’re not going to go round and force people to change things.

“It’s only when people want to change what they’ve got when the rules will come in.

“In the long term, it will hopefully be of benefit to the whole town.”

David Balcombe, director of the Building Preservation Trust, said Mr Levy’s padlocked shutters did not require planning consent.

He said: “The document says external metal shutters that roll down will no longer be approved, except in special cases.

“If everyone did that on a street, it would look like a ghetto very quickly.”

He said if the area was more attractive, more people would walk around there in the evenings, lowering the risk of of antisocial behaviour.