Tanning Salon Owner Loses Fight To Keep Window Display

The owner of a tanning salon in Market Harborough town centre has lost a fight to keep window displays.

A planning inspector has ruled the images on the front of Malibu Tanning Lounge, including a woman sunbathing on a beach, adversely affect the character and appearance of the area.

Pic: Malibu Tanning Lounge

Jim Cole had appealed a decision by Harborough District Council ordering him to remove the decors from the shop on Coventry Road, after being told just two complaints were lodged by people who deemed them ‘offensive.’

He says he is disappointed by the decision after receiving lots of support from locals since the row broke out last year and says changing the decors and rearranging his shop to allow for privacy, will cost thousands of pounds.

In dismissing the appeal, the inspector states in the appeal report: “I found that the window graphics, because of their size and siting on all panes of the bay, are highly visible in a prominent location on one of the principal approaches into the square and broadly opposite the entrance to the Commons public car park.

“They would therefore detrimentally affect the character and appearance of the conservation area, equating to harm to the amenity of the area.”

Mr Cole said he looked at other shop fronts in the area, which were also ‘big, bright and colourful’, and included examples in his appeal.

The inspector said: “The appellant has drawn my attention to other examples of window graphics close to the appeal property. I am not aware of the status of these, but I note that, unlike the appeal property, they occupy only part of the available window space.

“Their presence does not therefore alter my conclusions.”

Pic: Malibu Tanning Lounge

Speaking to HFM Mr Cole said: “It’s disappointing to hear that we have lost our appeal against our shop front window especially with the extraordinary amount of support we have received.

“We were told we were going to receive a visit from the planning inspector, but they unfortunately never visited us in person, which did not give us the chance to show the inside of our shop and the reason for covering.

“Our lovely lady has been up now for way over 12 months, the display is doing no harm whatsoever and quite frankly, I think it’s pathetic that this has all happened.

” To cater to our current shop layout we need to keep the vast majority of the window covered for privacy of our clients. We will work closely to create something in the future with sign writers to create something to see if it fits our council’s taste.

“The council need to take a look at all the empty properties around the town and stop making it harder on small independent businesses to succeed.”

A spokesperson for Harborough District Council said: “The council welcomes the decision of the Planning Inspectorate due to having concerns about the signage’s impact on the conservation area and town centre in Market Harborough, with the signage being highly visible in a prominent location.

“We encourage people to make the most of our pre-planning application advice service prior to submitting planning applications.”