THE FUTURE of the only shop to serve a remote Perthshire community has been secured after trunk road operators TranServ ruled signs placed on the verge by its owners do not breach safety regulations.

The Lochside Larder in St Fillans had been threatened with court action after just one local resident claimed the advertisements represented a dangerous distraction for users of the A85.

Shop owner Mike Lee insisted he would have no option but to shut the lifeline store if forced to remove the signs, saying they were his only means of attracting vital passing trade.

The decision to allow the signs to remain in place—made by TranServ officials following a site visit yesterday—was last night branded as a “victory for common sense” by St Fillans community council.

Following months of uncertainty Mr Lee was similarly delighted.

“There has been a loan voice campaigning against us and we are really pleased that things have finally been resolved,” he told The Courier.

“We already run at a loss during the winter months and completely rely on passing trade.

“It is quite a small shop and it is difficult for passers-by to notice us so the signs are absolutely vital for our continued existence.

“If we had been told to remove them there is no doubt in my mind that we would have been forced to close.”

Mr Lee was left reeling last November when he received a letter from TranServ ordering him to remove the signs.

He admitted the letter had left a nasty taste in his mouth.

“The local community council had been campaigning for ages to have some traffic-calming measures introduced in the village to no avail, yet it only took one person to complain about our signs for severe action to be taken,” he said.

The chair of St Fillans community council Willie Philips said it was great news for the whole community.

“I am absolutely delighted that common sense has prevailed,” he said.