A cafe owner has blasted ‘killjoy’ council bosses who have ordered he repaint his bright yellow shopfront.
The Beano cafe in Canterbury, Kent, has become infamous locally for its stand-out colour scheme and a sign with the logo of the famous comic which it takes its name from.
But it was forced to repaint it white, after the threat of legal action from the council as part of its crackdown on listed buildings with ‘garish’ appearances in the city centre.
Mustafa Kovak, 18, says Canterbury City Council gave his family just four weeks in April to repaint the building and install a new hand-painted sign, which cost £600.
He said: ‘I thought it was a joke. But they were very serious and have been making legal threats.
‘It is ridiculous. But they have been very serious about it. They’re killjoys.
‘I personally think there are more important issues the city needs to deal with. Rather than the colour of cafes.
‘It was so much better before. It stood out and brought in business which can surely only be a good thing for the local economy.
‘Because of the changes, we do not get as many customers. It’s because we do not stand out as much.
‘We got passing trade because of how it looked.
‘Now we don’t. I hope they’re happy with what they have done.’
The Beano is one of 22 businesses warned to change ‘inappropriate signage’, lights and paintwork, or face prosecution.
The council said the frontages of some listed buildings have been altered without permission and do not blend in with the heritage and history of the city centre.
It launched an initial crackdown last February, with dozens of high street traders found to have broken planning rules.
Mr Kovak added: ‘I will never understand it.
‘Our cafe looked great. It’s very sad what they have made us do.
‘They just want everything simple.’
One customer told Mail Online: ‘What the council have done is a joke. I feel very sorry for them.
‘They are just trying their best.’
Council deputy leader and Liberal Democrat Michael Dixey said: ‘We were all stung by the national headlines that compared Canterbury to a second-rate Las Vegas a few years ago and we all knew action had to be taken.
‘We’re really pleased that many of the businesses we targeted in the first phase of this crackdown have responded positively.
‘After 18 months, the few who have dragged their feet have now been served with enforcement notices.
‘Our message is getting across to business owners who are really engaging with us and are genuinely keen to do the right thing.’
Altering a listed building without permission is a criminal offence, which means offenders can ultimately be fined or jailed.
Some business owners have accused the council of using heavy-handed techniques to force shopkeepers and landlords to make changes.