> He is entitled to have it back if he pays the council £100.’
What, so they can stop by and take it again? Don’t give them the satisfaction. “You wanted the pole, it’s yours, you assholes.”
From the picture in the article, it looks like he could put in a lit pole horizontally right in the red area of the sign below “The Barber Shop”. Heck, it could even spin to garner attention. Yeah, it’ll cost, but at least you’ll accomplish your goal of attracting customers and communicating “We’re Open!”
Oh, and make sure you put up signs with the names of the current town council members in your shop, documenting what they did, and what it cost you. Wouldn’t hurt to get behind alternate candidates in the next election either, though I have a feeling that town councils in the UK attract these verminous little-despots like lights attract moths. Change the people, you still have the same type of person in power.