Sheffield shop told to remove ‘misleading’ posters after blaming business rates for closure

Stone the Crows! announced in December that it was closing its Barker’s Pool branch, with posters placed in the windows blaming the decision on ‘the council’s refusal to address unfair rates’.

But Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment, claimed the posters were ‘misleading members of the public’.

Business rates are set by central government but collected by local authorities, which can offer a discount if firms are eligible for relief schemes.

After the posters appeared, it emerged that the Dronfield-based company was in debt and had faced a winding-up petition for insolvency in May last year over money HM Revenue and Custom claimed it owed.

But owners Philippa and John Allan insisted the firm had a ‘low debt ratio’ and said the winding-up petition had been dismissed at the High Court in July 2019.

Mr Iqbal said the council has no control over business rates and it was ‘completely unfair’ to suggest it was to blame for the store’s struggles.

He told how the council had given Stone the Crows! and other businesses a discounted rent of close to 80 per cent for what he described as a ‘prime location’.

Sheffield Council this week wrote to the firm claiming the signs were ‘in breach of the terms of your lease’ and ‘politely’ asking for them to be removed.

“If you do not remove the signs then reluctantly the council as landlord will consider using its rights under the lease,” states the letter….

“I would hope that you will comply with this request and that the council is not required to take any further action.”

The letter does not specifically state what further action the council might take.

The Star has contacted Stone the Crows!, which has failed to respond.

No closing date has yet been announced for the store, which is one of several branches but the only one within Sheffield, though Mr Allan previously said it would shut towards the end of February.

He said it was looking for another site in Sheffield but the search was proving ‘difficult’.