SHOPKEEPERS in Old Town have said they are unable to protect their property from vandals due to stringent planning rules.

The owners of both Harrison’s News and Earles newsagents, on Newport Street, want to install shutters on the outside of their shops to protect them after numerous vandal attacks, but claim the council regulations about the exterior of buildings prevent this.

Rosemary Earl, who runs Earles, said she is prepared to put up the £7,000 needed to get good quality shutters but says the council rules wont let her install them.

She said: “All we want to do is protect our property.

“We both work incredibly long hours and the amount of time the shutters would actually be down would be very minimal – from after 9pm until 7am , so hardly anyone will see them.

“The council guidelines for the area says no solid shutters.

“I think it is absolutely disgusting that the council are totally insensitive to the real needs of local retailers.”

Mrs Earl said that her front shop windows have been smashed in four times in recent years and one pane is currently masked up after a late-night vandal attack.

Shopkeeper Ramesh Malam, of Harrison’s News on the same road had his plans for shutters thrown out by the council, despite getting more than 300 signatures on a petition to install the safety measures.

He declined to speak to the Adver about his rejected planning application.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “We have never said that this business can’t have shutters or improved security – it’s the type of shutters that are the issue.

“Like many councils we have planning guidelines that deal with the appearance of shopfronts, and this includes shutter design. Other businesses have security shutters that work perfectly well and meet the planning guidelines.

“We gave advice to the applicants about what was and wasn’t acceptable before they put in their application, and told them we were happy to discuss the issue further, but this offer wasn’t taken up.

“Once the application came in, we contacted their agent and again offered to give advice and help, but we didn't hear anything and the application was therefore refused because it is against planning policy.

“We always try to help applicants so that their plans have the best chance of being approved, but if people choose not to take our advice, they run the risk that their application won't succeed.”