SIR – A certain amount of nimble action is required to negotiate around Ilkley these days due to a proliferation of “A-boards” outside the town centre shops. I do understand that with the current retail market it is necessary to bring your wares to the public’s attention, but is it really necessary for some businesses to have two if not three of these boards outside.

A relatively quick count recently showed there to be almost 120 of these things and that is not counting those on the outskirts of town. Do I really need to know that the butcher is selling meat? Indeed there is even an A-board inside Tesco saying that the fish counter sells fish!

Some of the boards are scattered well away from the businesses they represent, maybe acceptable as an advertising method if they actually said where the business was as well as what it did.

Presumably the boards have no charge other than their making, unlike a conventional advert. Perhaps here is a chance for the council to levy a charge which in turn may help to reduce my taxes. That would be good wouldn’t it?

M Rayner, Leeds Road, Ilkley