I WAS dismayed to read the article on Sarah Jane's Interiors and the problems she is having with her display boards and the Highways Agency (Malvern Gazette & Ledbury Reporter, March 18).

I am the owner of the building occupied by Sarah Jane's Interiors and a few years ago I was having trouble getting tenants to occupy these premises because of the hidden away position.

I approached Malvern Hills District Council with a view to change of use to either holiday chalets or small housing.

MHDC's planning department was very helpful with its advice but was strongly against losing commercial property in the centre of town. I would have to prove it could not work as commercial before they would even consider the change.

With this prospect in mind I decided I had to appeal to a different type of business. To do this I invested thousands of pounds in the property with the result of attracting Sarah Jane's Interiors, who in turn bought in Lee Morris, a high class furniture maker who does bespoke work for Sarah Jane's clients, also a local musician who has also invested considerable funds installing a studio.

The main disadvantage with the site is that it cannot be seen by passers-by. There is a distinct need to advertise and guide customers to the premises. It seems very petty of the Highways Partnership to remove a sign on the grounds of safety. There has been a sign at the bottom of St Ann's Road for over a year and as far as I am aware, no-one has been hurt by it.

I would also like to know if it is the same Highways Partner-ship that I have contacted on three occasions asking it to visit this site with regard to the safety of a wall. As they have not bothered to visit or contact me I have repaired the wall at my own expense. It is very annoying when petty bureaucracy will try to obstruct a business' trade but not attend to the real problems, i.e. the highways!

PAUL RAYSON, Belle Vue Terrace, Malvern.