I painted canopy in rainbow colours as tribute to my wife…but now ‘joyless’ council has forced me to tear it down
A MAN who painted a canopy in rainbow colours as a tribute to his wife says his “joyless” council has forced him to tear it down.
Ken Aylmer, 52, from Clifton in Bristol, painted the awning with bright stripes to thank the NHS for helping his wife Illona beat cancer.
The businessman also wanted to celebrate the LGBT community, which has a rainbow flag.
But Ken has now been told to tear the canopy down after neighbours complained that it spoiled their view.
He was forced to apply for retrospective planning permission – even though he just wanted to “put a smile on people’s faces”.
Fuming locals argued that the rainbow canopy was “completely inappropriate” and failed to “blend with the colours of neighbouring properties“.
Ken’s home is The Paragon – a well-known listed building which is part of the view from Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Now his application, which had 100 comments in support and 34 objections, has been turned down by Bristol City Council.
A planning official wrote: “The development being the rainbow painted canopy is highly visible from a wide area.
“Due to the vibrant colours it has an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the Clifton and Hotwells Conservation Area and the City Docks Conservation Area.
“The introduction of the colourful paintwork to the canopy on this property is also not considered to be in keeping with the listed building and fails to preserve it.”
In support of the proposals, Ken wrote: “Colour is joyful, uplifting and inspiring.
“To return this canopy to an unfinished dull grey appearance, like many of its neighbours, would certainly be a loss.”
Ken said: “The rainbow means different things to different people.
“But it is invariably positive, progressive and inclusive, right back to biblical times.
“Fair enough, I do understand we should have sought permission.
“We thought it might put a smile on people’s faces as they look up from the Cumberland Basin.
He added: “We realise the canopy is in the iconic view of Bristol so we do need to think of the heritage of the building.
“But our research showed that the Georgians loved colour, often painting all sorts of lead work in different hues, using the most colourful pigments they had.
“They used it for clothes and decorations, the past is not a dull colourless sombre place.
“The Georgians were flamboyant. Brunel wanted sphinxes on the Suspension Bridge for heaven’s sake.
“For all we know the entirety of the Paragon’s and Royal York Crescent’s canopies were decorated colourfully at some point.
“Think how amazing that would look. It would be a must see for anyone living in or visiting the city.”
Ken accepted that the colours were “quite vibrant” and “aren’t typically Georgian.”
But he said discussions were underway to keep the design in place.
He added: “If we can have some kind of compromise while maintaining the historic aspect, that’d be great .
“A bit more muted with a Georgian-approved palette.”
Bristol City Council has been contacted for comment.