Locals believe the colour is out of touch for St Ives, Cornwall, because it is not white (Picture: SWNS)
Locals in a Cornish town feel like it is turning into Benidorm because a newcomer has painted his shop ‘smurf blue’.
They have demanded urgent action because they feel the colour is out of keeping for St Ives, Cornwall, famous they say for its white-painted homes.
The problem is so bad the town council is now involved and people think the cobalt blue building should have been painted a shade of magnolia instead.
The council is in discussion with the owner Mr Blueberry who wanted to put his ‘own creative stamp on things’.
The local authority said Mr Blueberry did not have the required planning permission to change the colour of buildings in the conservation area.
Nicholas Pearce, 48, who runs local surf shop wind and sea close to the building, said locals are angry.
He said: ‘It is a terribly dark blue and the way it is painted overnight without permission is wrong – and people in St Ives are angry about it.
‘It has made the actual area darker itself. It used to be white and that gave a lot of light.
The bright blue shop has caused quite the stir in the town (Picture: SWNS)
This is what the building looked like before (Picture: SWNS)
Nick Pearce, 50, has been left disgusted by the dark blue colour (Picture: SWNS)
‘All we know is basically been leased and taken over and not many people know what is going on – we heard a rumour it was going to be a clothes shop but don’t know for sure.
‘Some locals have taken it very angrily as they just did it without permission overnight.
‘The next day opening up I had to double look as it is a really loud blue.
‘It is a hideous colour. Apparently they have agreed to change it – which they need to – to tone it down a bit but at the moment it is still there.
‘A lot of locals in St Ives do get angry about things that happen in the town. They are very protective of preserving things. There was uproar about the Premier Inn that was planned at the top of town as the architecture was all wrong.
‘I do understand that. Personally, I am all for change and I do like modernisation but I feel that colour done overnight without permission is wrong. I can see why a lot of locals are annoyed.’
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The topic was also discussed on the Real Love St Ives Facebook group with local resident Jamie Law saying: ‘What the hell have they done to the old camera shop? How on earth did this pass planning?’
Sara Jane Tomlinson wrote: ‘It’s disgusting. It sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s getting to look like Benidorm.’
Mandy Jones added: ‘It is hurting our eyes and if it was done without permission it is other people’s business.’
Louise Dwelly, clerk of St Ives Town Council, said discussions had taken place this week with the owner.
She added: ‘In terms of the colour, the general public will always have preferences, but it is very difficult for policy makers to take a view on an individual colour because it’s a very subjective matter.
‘The shop is within a conservation area which has additional restrictions and means that planning permission would be required which the owner hasn’t done. The conservation area is about celebrating and protecting the distinctive characteristics of the historic town centre. Traditionally this would have been muted tones, white lime wash, blue slates etc.
‘A planning application is a chance for a debate about whether a painted house has a detrimental impact on this. Set against this of course is precedent and the fact that there are other strong colours already.’
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