Planning decision was not so bright

A RECENT article mentioned a decision by Newcastle City Council to ban a ‘garish’ bright yellow shop front by the beauty chain L’Occitane En Provence in the city centre.

The planning inspector Philip Lewis has determined that even though the appellant has mentioned that the yellow colour scheme has been used in a City of Bath World Heritage Site, he strongly feels that the colour is inappropriate in the busy Grainger Street area.

Speaking as an ordinary member of the public with hopefully an appreciation of aesthetics, for the life of me I cannot see what is wrong with a cheerful yellow painted shop facade in a busy Newcastle street.

I feel in this case it is such a petty matter yet I will mention another planning debacle where, in my opinion, planners have committed sacrilege.

It relates to the very attractive

curved terrace near ‘The Gibraltar Pub’ in Tynemouth which has a very similar appearance to that already mentioned terrace in Bath, which is a World Heritage Site.

However, local planners have found it appropriate to

allow an infill building to be inserted within the terrace with a completely different roof line which completely ruins the beautiful appearance of the rest of the terrace. PETER CURTIS