A TATTOO studio is the first business to be prosecuted by Colchester Council for flouting its town centre A-board ban.

Clive Harvey, who owns Tattoo Inc in Short Wyre Street, was found guilty in his absence at Colchester Magistrates’ Court for failed to comply with a public spaces protection order.

His board, placed on top of a mobility scooter, was helping the tattooist to drum up trade.

Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court ordered Mr Harvey to pay a total of £1,000.

But Mr Harvey, said the boards are essential for small town centre traders.

He said: “The impact on us since the ban has come in has been dramatic. I would estimate that business has fallen by around half.

“The council say they want to help businesses like us but why would they bring this in if that was really the case?

“We’re upstairs and when people are walking along the street they just look forward, they don’t look up, so they have no way of knowing we’re here.”

Public safety boss councillor Mike Lilley, who was responsible for implementing the ban, said: “This is the first breach of the town centre PSPO that has gone to court and although I take no delight in saying it, Mr Harvey would not have received such a hefty fine had he stayed within the law, followed our advice and paid the final penalty notice having been given every opportunity to do so.

“We want to work with businesses, not against them, to ensure they don’t fall foul of the PSPO.

“This means instructing and advising businesses to avoid breaching the restrictions or face further action.

“It also means we apply the same rules fairly and consistently across the whole of the restricted area, and are seen to do so.

“The PSPO is about helping to make our town centre a safe, attractive and welcoming place for all visitors, including people who are visually impaired or who have restricted mobility. as well as to parents with children, prams and buggies.

“It is not, and never has been, an attempt to stifle local business.”

According to the council, a warning letter was first sent to Harvey in October last year, followed by a chat in January when the advertising was first taken down. However it reappeared within a few days.