Pensioners Tony and Veronica Davis of Little Stoke, near Bristol, have sparked a planning dispute after commissioning a mural on their 1960s end-of-terrace home. The artwork, painted weeks before the general election, depicts David Cameron with his hands around a nurse's throat. South Gloucestershire Council deemed it an 'illegal advertisement' and ordered its removal by 12 May, threatening a fine of up to £2,500. However, the mural remains in place, and the couple have instructed a solicitor to challenge the council's decision.
The Davises are accused of violating the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements)(England) Regulations 2007, which require planning permission for illustrations considered adverts. This is not their first such dispute; they previously displayed a Conservative-bashing message on wood during the 2010 general election. The couple argue that the current mural is not an advertisement and are prepared to test the law.
In a separate case, Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring painted her multi-million-pound townhouse in London's Kensington red and white stripes, drawing comparisons to a giant beach hut. Kensington and Chelsea Council issued a section 215 notice under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, citing 'numerous complaints' and the property's location in a conservation area. The council has ordered her to remove the stripes and repair windows by 3 July, but she plans to fight the notice.
Conversely, artist Alex Lucas's hand-painted Victorian terrace in Bristol's Montpelier area has been well received. Painted five years ago with birds and flowers, it has become a local landmark. Bristol City Council initially wary but now supportive, allows murals as long as they are not advertising. Each case is assessed individually, and the city's tolerance for street art is influenced by its association with Banksy.
Brighton and Hove City Council is 'considering its approach' after murals appeared on Viaduct Road in March, following a request for residents to clean up the street. The council has commissioned street art in the past but is now reviewing its powers over murals on private property. The government advises that such decisions are made on a case-by-case basis by local authorities, with conservation areas and listed buildings subject to additional regulations under the Planning Act 1990.
