A BUSINESSMAN whose office is opposite a derelict building has hit out at council chiefs who ordered him to remove an ‘oppressive’ sign.

Jason Anderson was stunned when he was sent a letter demanding he takes down the ‘eyesore’ from the front of recruitment agency Jobs4You.

The 37-year-old slammed the decision as ‘ridiculous’ as he says he simply replaced a transfer on an advertising sign, which was erected by a previous occupant around three years ago.

He was landed with the notice just weeks after relocating to Yorkshire Street and can’t understand why Rochdale Council has ordered him to remove the sign as he’s surrounded by shops with similar boards and empty buildings.

He said: “When I opened the letter I was really disgusted, but at the same time it just seemed quite humorous.

“The area is really run down and we’re surrounded by lots of empty shops so we couldn’t believe it when we were told that our sign was oppressive. All we did was take out the old sign and took off the transfer to put a new one over it.

“We’re opposite a derelict building, which we call the pigeon house, because it’s full of pigeons.

“ We employ five people and have opened up as a jobs agency to find work for people in a difficult climate. I just can’t believe that the council has nothing better to do than say we are bringing the area down.”

A spokesman from Rochdale Council said: “We believe that the replacement sign is unauthorised and contravenes the Town and Country Planning Act. A letter was sent to Mr Anderson and the council is awaiting his response.”