A TRIAL ban on the use of advertising A-boards by city centre businesses has been given the go-ahead.

Councillors in York have approved the 12-month trial ban - but pushed back the start date by a month until the beginning of next February.

Business owners had asked the city council’s executive to reconsider the idea, but with campaigners for blind and partially sighted people and older people backing the proposed ban, it got the go ahead.

Dawn Argyle, of the Luxury Ice Cream Company, was among the business owners asking for a rethink.

She said small firms like hers were “the goose that lays the golden egg” for York, paying business rates and wages, and said A-boards were only used because they work and bring in custom.

Instead of banning them, the council should be trying to find other ways of supporting small businesses, she added.

Harry Bains, of Love Cheese on Gillygate, added: “The difference between profit and loss is very close. Even the slightest loss of footfall can make a difference.”

The plan got a much warmer reception from York Civic Trust's Sir Ron Cooke, and Diane Roworth of the York Blind and Partially Sighted Society, who welcomed the move.

An exemption for Micklegate was also approved, and traders there will be able to apply for licences to display an A-board.