A ROW has broken out over a West Sussex County Council policy to remove advertising signs pointing to local traders in Fernhurst.

Fernhurst parish councillor Iain Brown saw red over the issue following the removal of signs to Aspinal and John Nicholson, the auctioneers, located just off the main A286, near the former Syngenta site.

The auctioneers, he told a meeting of the council last week, brought up to 600 people into the village on auction days, with many using the shops and services in Fernhurst.

"It's damn dangerous not to have a sign and the whole thing has been done in a very ham- fisted way," declared Mr Brown.

And he added that the sign had been up for more than 10 years and there was no other way to pin-point the location of the auction house.

Mr Brown also claimed to have passed 62 advertising signs along the the main road out of Fernhurst.

But Lt Col Tex Pemberton, the county councillor for Fernhurst, told the meeting that all signs on the highway were illegal and that West Sussex County Council, WSCC "were addressing all 'A' boards across the county".

"Legally they have to come down, but we will look to see if we can help," he added.

Mr Nicholson told The Herald that it was not the removal of the signs that had annoyed him but "the way I have been treated since."

"I have written four letters and made at least half-a-dozen phone calls. We are a business not on the main road and not easy to find." He claimed that his efforts to have a "green" sign were thwarted and he was also told to remove a sign on land opposite.

And he said the removal of his sign which had been there for 12 years smacked of "victimisation".

The area, he continued, was full of signs selling everything from strawberries and helicopter lessons, to polo matches, antiques at Goodwood and a threshing event.

"I do totally understand what they are trying to do, but I don't see anything wrong having a sign outside pointing to a business," said Mr Nicholson, who is fearful of accidents on Henley Hill, caused by people trying to find the auctioneers.

"I do agree that we shouldn't have signs spread over a wide area but why should they penalise someone trying to run a business?" he asked.