Royston’s Laura victorious after council’s banner ban threatened craft fair’s future

The organiser of a Royston fair which almost faced closure due to tough new regulations on advertising outside the town hall is chuffed to bits that she’s been granted permission to hang up her banner at another location.

Laura Whitford and Stuart Hunter put up a banner - Credit: Archant

After complaints from the public, Laura Whitford, who runs the monthly craft fair, was told in July that she was only allowed to hang up a banner every three months outside the town hall, which subsequently caused a huge decline in footfall.

But thanks to her landlord at her craft shop No.3 in Melbourn Street, for which she has just extended the lease to make it permanent, she has been given permission to regularly hang up a banner outside the store premises, which will hopefully drum up business for the monthly event.

Laura Whitford and Anne Walls were gutted when they were told they were no longer allowed to display their banner every month outside the town hall. - Credit: Archant

She said: “Nothing stops crafters once we get our heads together.”