Outpouring of support to keep rainbow canopy overlooking Gorge

The owners of a home with a painted rainbow canopy have been issued with an enforcement notice following several complaints.

This is not just any home but a house on The Paragon in Clifton. Think of the picture postcard view towards the Suspension Bridge from Cumberland Basin and The Paragon is one of the roads hugging the cliff face.

“Fair enough, I do understand we should have sought permission,” the owner of the house admitted to Bristol24/7.

Businessman Ken Aylmer, who has lived on The Paragon for 15 years, has now applied for a retrospective Listed Building application.

More than 40 comments supporting the application have been received at the last count, hugely outnumbering just three objections.

The Paragon forms part of a picture postcard view looking up to Hotwells and Clifton from the Cumberland Basin – photo: Ken Aylmer

Aylmer, 52, who owns eco deluxe holiday home business Tregulland & Co, said that a rainbow “means different things to different people but it is invariably positive, progressive and inclusive, right back to biblical times”.

He said: “When we decided to paint the canopy, my wife, Illona, had recently finished treatment and recovered from cancer thanks to the NHS. She had a strong connection to the rainbow’s symbolic support of the NHS during Covid.

“Our son, Leo 13, was one of the many children who drew a rainbow at school at that time. Our daughter, Ella 24, is pansexual and a great advocate of all things queer so she was very passionate about it.

“And, in simple terms we thought it might put a smile on people’s faces as they look up from the Cumberland Basin.

“We realise the canopy is in the iconic view of Bristol so we do need to think of the heritage of the building but our research showed that the Georgians loved colour, often painting all sorts of lead work in different hues, using the most colourful pigments they had, they used it for clothes and decorations, the past is not a dull colourless sombre place.

“The Georgians were pushing the limits of what was possible at that time. On the Paragon they were using the latest building techniques to effectively build skyscrapers on the edge of a cliff 200 years ago.

“The Georgians were flamboyant. Brunel wanted sphinxes on the Suspension Bridge for heaven’s sake. So we do have a precedent from the Georgians themselves.

“For all we know the entirety of the Paragon’s and Royal York Crescent’s canopies were decorated colourfully at some point.

“Think how amazing that would look. It would be a must see for anyone living in or visiting the city.

“The heritage of a building is not just stuck in the past, it is constantly evolving and changing with the times.

“These buildings were always meant to be inspirational. If the canopy helps flag up Bristol’s modern social aspirations and values then we are all for it.”

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Rory Hume of Moon Design, who is helping with securing the retrospective planning permission, said: “The variety of canopy finishes over the years have all added to the rich character of the crescent.

“The rainbow colours of 14 The Paragon, are just a further continuation of this tradition; I’m sure the Georgians would be proud.”

But not everyone is happy. One comment from a member of Clifton & Hotwells Improvement Society said: “This garishly painted canopy was drawn to the Society’s attention some months ago, as a result of which we reported the matter to Planning Enforcement. Consequently a retrospective planning application has been made.

“This canopy is attached to a listed house forming part of an architecturally important terrace in a very prominent position in the conservation area.

“The bright rainbow colours are completely inappropriate and fail to blend with the colours of neighbouring properties.

“There is no evidence that such canopies were ever painted in anything other than monochrome. This application must be refused.”

Another objection said: “The question which the planners have to address is whether the rainbow colouring on the awning of no. 14 The Paragon detracts from the character of the building.

“I see that many supporters of this retrospective application consider that the current popular message to which they attribute this decoration or that any lick of bright colour to a Georgian building, is to be encouraged.

“According to presently constituted rules and polices such decoration does detract from the character of this fine Grade II* listed terrace which should not be permitted to be daubed with bright colours just because the decoration is approved by certain quarters.

“The planners have a long term responsibility in this connection and should not be persuaded by misguided support for a proposal which, if allowed, would be a damaging precedent for the protection of Bristol’s architectural heritage.”

Main photo:

Read next:

• Unique landscape of Avon Gorge celebrated in new mural
• Bristol gets its first rainbow crossing
• ‘The reaction to Bristol’s rainbow crossing proves exactly why we need it’

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