Ethan Healy, at The Watch Shop on Clifton Street m Lytham, has a great reputation for truly looking after and helping his many local and visiting customers. But it is Ethan who now needs help as he says he is ‘under attack’ from Fylde Council because of his rain canopy.
The Council have told Ethan that his canopy must be removed. A distraught Ethan has said, ‘Hi everyone, my watch shop in Lytham is under attack. 14 months ago, I put up a rain canopy to shield my stock from rain. It has helped me so much to keep me in business in these troubling times. It has nothing but 4 posts and a cover to help stop the rain ruining my livelihood. No front, no sides just a rain cover. The council have informed me that I must remove it. I need help please.’
16 Responses
Ethan’s canopy must remain where it is and not condemned by FBC. It enhances the area and is also very useful.
There’s no difference to the one that can be seen further down the street in the picture. There’s no sides, it’s not blocking the pavement and its helping the man keep his business afloat. Maybe these jobsworths at the council could concentrate on providing the services we pay for and leave hard working people alone.
I would like to add my support to Mr Healy. Let him leave the canopy in place. Covid allowed local businesses with earing facilities to erect outside eating premises providing there as pedestrian space available. Why can’t the availability be made possible in this circumstances.
There are many shops in Lytham with canopies, whether or not the shop owner erected them is irrelevant. They are not an eye sore , and when it’s raining many people shelter under them.
The watch shop has been in Lytham for years, let’s not.lose another business due to the council
The council is correct, pull it down. What the people of Lytham need is a vibrant street, full of empty shops or charity shops
The council should enforce rules for all.
The Deacon, Farina and Olive Tree all have illegal canopy extensions that should be removed.
So disgusting man keeping his business dry
We travel from Leyland to lytham and never noticed the canopy so it can’t be such an eyesore. Please do not drive small business like Ethans away or lytham will end up like Southport full of empty shops, small bars, charity shops etc and less visitors.
He should not have to remove the canopy, Look at the old Royal Bank of Scotland, that extension goes half way across the pavement. Zest now has so may tables creeping along in front of Stringers, it seems exceptions are made but why?
What a dreadful eyesore,,I belive the roof section is made of plastic sheeting, not quite fitting for leafily LYTHAM, Also did he apply for planning permission for this structure, one wonders !!!!!
Leave the man alone. I am disabled and use a scooter. The canopy doesn’t impede me or anyone else as far as I can tell and if it helps Ethan keep his business afloat, then good on him.
Typical that when a hardworking shopkeeper shows a hint of enterprise or ingenuity to grow their business…
FBC will be lurking round the corner ready to give them a kicking.
One only has to look at St Anne’s town centre (where FBC are based)…to appreciate the negative effect their lackeys have on the immediate locale.
I’m in full support of Ethan.
FBC should back off and leave him alone – haven’t we seen enough businesses closing shop. They should e encouraging him to prosper and stay open.
Besides, the canopy is far from being an eyesore, and it’s not an inconvenience to anyone. In fact the framework itself is actually very pleasing.
If anything the Council should parhaps offer assistance to maybe enhance the top canopy – but even that has a certain charm and does the job.
What is an actual inconvenience in Lytham are the various cafes and restaurants that take up so much pedestrian pavement, so much that at times you have to step into the busy street to walk by!
I don’t see FBC doing anything about that.
May i suggest leaving and setting up in Darwen.there are a few empty stalls in the market. Which is thriving along with a busy town. With lots of activities going on plus free parking and a ten min bus service from blackburn and bolton its a friendly town. With no snobs or council nit pickers
What a pain the FBC are! Leave businesses alone to get on and help Lytham thrive. The canopy does not stop anyone walking along, you don’t even really notice it. It’s a proper shop not another charity shop which all towns like Lytham need. Baa-humbug Council 🤬.
The council need to concentrate on real issues. Perhaps he should speak to Buckley who with planners overlooked the windsport centre being built without planning!
Ethan needs to hold his ground.There cannot be one law for the council and one for individuals