THE manager of a Salisbury sex shop has been told he will need to take down one of the adverts in his window display following complaints.

Last week The Journal reported that people living in the area had started a petition to protest against the changes to the display in the window of the Amazing Fantasy shop in Fisherton Street.

They raised particular concerns about photographs of scantily clad women that had been placed at children’s eye level in the window and also some of the slogans on adverts.

The petition, which was mainly circulated in streets near the shop, was then presented to ward councillor Richard Clewer.

As a result, licensing officers from Wiltshire Council visited the shop this week and informed staff that one of the adverts would need to be removed or changed. “There are licensing conditions governing this type of business and one of them is for the manager to keep us informed if there are any changes to the shop,” said a Wiltshire Council spokesman.

“We’ve now visited the business and advised the manager of concerns from the public and that one of the adverts on display will need to be altered or taken down. We will now aim to set up an arrangement where he can easily notify us when he wants to make changes to the shop and we can advise accordingly.”

However, owner Jonathan Spencer says he has had “strong support” for the changes he has made, which he says makes the shop look “brighter and less sleazy”.

He has started his own petition in support of the window display, which has been signed by 82 people, and he plans to present it to cllr Clewer next week.

“I’ve been very pleased by all the support and positive comments I’ve received,” he said.

“People have been coming into the shop – not even customers – people who just want to show their support for a local business and agree with the changes I have made.

“I’m confused by some of the changes the council is insisting on – I thought the changes made the shop less sleazy but they want me to plaster the words “licensed sex shop” everywhere.

“I have not had complaints about my displays and slogans in other places but here it is an issue even though we have been trading for years.”

Mr Spencer says he will remove some of the adverts from the window display until he gets further guidance from the council’s licensing officers.