Shop owner fails in bid for striped front to stay

A boutique owner says she is "deeply disappointed" after being told to remove the pink and burgundy stripes she painted on her historic shop.

Isabella Wookey, owner of Willow & Wolf on Marlborough High Street, added the unique design to her 18th-century Grade II listed shop in 2025.

Wiltshire Council told Wookey to remove the stripes in October 2025; she applied for retrospective listed building consent in March.

At a meeting of the council's eastern area planning committee on Thursday, members voted by five votes to two to refuse Wookey's consent.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, officers said the stripes were detrimental to the appearance of the shop and "visually distracting" to the wider conservation area.

Wookey was supported by Marlborough's two councillors, Kym-Marie Cleasby and Jane Davies.

Marlborough Town Council offered no objection to the application, provided the paint was suitable for use on historic building materials, which they were assured it was.

Davies, a professional historic buildings paint specialist and in whose ward the shop is situated, said: "It was controversial at first, but opinion has settled into it being an asset to High Street.

"It is important to support independent traders. It's not doing any harm to the physical building."

Ross Henning, councillor for Chippenham Lowden and Rowden, said he "quite liked" the decoration, but said planning regulations needed to be followed.

"This committee is not a street art appreciation society," he said.

Meanwhile, Chris Vaughan, Trowbridge Park councillor, said the shop looked sweet but added: "If we keep saying yes, it becomes harder to say no."

After the meeting, Wookey said she cared deeply about the town's heritage and character, but believes there "should also be room for colour, creativity and a little joy".

"We've been overwhelmed by the support from people across Marlborough and far beyond, so we are deeply disappointed by a decision that feels at odds with the strength of local feeling," she said.

"We remain keen to work constructively with the council to find a positive way forward and will now take some time to consider the decision, including whether to appeal."

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