Councillor Julian Gallant, leader of Ealing Conservatives, gives his view on Labour-run Ealing Council’s new £175-a-year charge for businesses displaying A-boards on the public highway.
“Ealing boasts a number of fine independent shops that depend on line-of-sight trade. That’s where A-boards come in very useful, something we pedestrians see but don’t even think about. And I’m not talking about huge pot plants or furniture that can genuinely obstruct pavements.
“A letter has just gone out from Ealing Council to businesses across the borough directing that they will now have to pay £175 per annum for each A-board they display on the public highway, as part of the pavement licensing régime. The letter refers to original notification in February, in the council’s business newsletter.
“The letter instructs that “If a business has its own forecourt the board should be placed within that area”. It is unclear whether businesses will still have to pay the levy, even if their board is placed on private land.
“This policy was apparently introduced on 1 April 2026, but no one noticed with all the borough’s energy focussed on the local elections.
“The policy is supposedly designed to help keep the pavement clear for pedestrians. Yet, in 6 years as a councillor in one of the busiest commercial districts, I have never had a complaint about A-boards.
“Make no mistake. This is another tax on businesses in physical premises, already in heavy competition with online trading.
“Ealing’s Labour leadership needs to empathise with the Borough’s SMEs, provide help wherever possible and minimise regulation. Charging for A-boards is just going to make life a bit harder. We will be strongly opposing this new measure.”
