Tanning Salon Owner Wins Fight To Keep ‘Lady Malibu’

The owner of a Market Harborough tanning salon has won his fight to keep a picture of a woman sunbathing on the front of his shop.

James Cole was ordered to remove the image of the bikini-clad lady on a beach from Malibu Tanning Lounge on Coventry Road last year, after complaints it was ‘offensive’.

Malibu Tanning Lounge staff Jess Punter and Maia Bevan with owner James Cole

He later lost a planning appeal when he challenged the Harborough District Council’s decision that the shop-front was not in-keeping with the area, but refused to give up.

Now, after negotiating with the council the salon has been allowed to keep the picture, nicknamed ‘Lady Malibu’, by reducing it in size slightly and removing smaller images of people in swimwear on side windows.

Over 700 people backed an on-line petition supporting the business owner who branded the initial decision ‘ridiculous’ as he faced having to re-model the inside of the salon if the shop window could not remain covered, for the privacy of customers.

James told HFM he is delighted with the outcome:

A spokesperson for Harborough District Council told HFM: “We are pleased the business has found a solution that retains its presence whilst reducing the amount and impact of signage.

“The changes are in keeping with the Market Harborough Conservation Area.”