A shopkeeper has gathered 1,250 signatures to protest against an order forcing him to tear down his £3,000 security shutters.

Chris Dancey launched a petition to save the shutters outside his Supernews newsagents a fortnight ago after Brighton and Hove City Council refused to grant retrospective planning permission.

He handed the petition to the council yesterday in the hope the shutters can stay but said he is prepared to face prison if his appeal is unsuccessful.

His shop in Ditchling Road at Fiveways, Brighton, has been repeatedly targeted by vandals and burglars. The windows were smashed with a sledge hammer and the shop broken into three times before the security barriers were put up four years ago.

Mr Dancey said: "I have had so much support from customers, other shop keepers and people in the area who have signed the petition and wished me luck.

"At the end of the day, I am defending my business and my property.

"I feel that my shop is my castle. I have the criminals on one side and the council on the other and I am having to defend myself against both.

"I would like to see the council rethink its policy. Why didn't they just send someone down to ask me why they were there? It would have saved a lot of time and money and this could all have been sorted out amicably."

The planning department said it was not aware of some of the break-ins at Mr Dancey's shop and has suggested he submits a new planning application.

Thursday, September 1, 2005