Landlord of The Bull’s Head in Wootton Wawen launches a petition in his fight to keep bull mural after council said it must be removed

Mr Peel has been landlord at the Marston’s pub for three years and told the Herald at that time, that he didn’t know he needed consent.

He said: “I’d never heard of it before. It was meant to be eye-catching, a bit of fun for the regulars and a way of advertising the pub and get new customers in.

“I had a visit from the district council’s planning enforcement officer on 10th June and he wrote to me, telling me to remove the mural and that unauthorised work on a listed building is considered a criminal offence and if it isn’t removed formal enforcement could take place.”

But encouraged by the reaction from regulars and supporters from far and wide, Mr Peel decided it was a bull worth fighting for- and has now applied to the district council for listed building consent and an advertising application.

He has also launched a petition on the change.org website that’s heading towards 1,500 signatures.

Details of both applications are available on the district council’s. Comments can be made until Tuesday, 17th September and there has already been a surge of submissions in favour.

A statement from consultants Stansgate Planning in support of the application sets out the case in favour for the mural to stay and potential precedents.

It says: ‘The mural is already in existence and was painted by a local, traditional signwriter who has produced hand-painted signage for other breweries across Stratford district, including the Bell Inn at Welford, The Crown Inn at Claverdon and The Fox at Loxley.

‘The Bull depicted in the mural is a British breed of cattle originating from Herefordshire in the West Midlands and not only does it reflect the name of the pub, it would have also been a regular site in nearby fields.

‘The applicant is the current landlord of the Bull’s Head Inn and since taking over day-to-day operations of the pub, he has worked hard to restore the building in attempt to create a vibrant and welcoming community facility to be enjoyed by locals and visitors of Wootton Wawen.

‘The applicant was not aware that consent would be required for the mural hence the retrospective nature of this application, nonetheless, the mural was created with care and respect for the building with the applicant choosing a traditional sign writer / mural painter, as he did not want to use standard computer cut plastics or printed vinyl’.

Speaking to the paper this week, Mr Peel said while there has been so much support for Eddie, when he went to a recent parish council meeting and hears some misgivings about the lettering that had also been added showing the type of cuisine on offer and the direction the car park, he took the feedback and had both elements painted out.

But he remains bullish about the need for the sign and that it was appropriate.

He said: “It suits the age and style of the building - and we need a frontage.

“A lot of people passing by have said they thought it was a house on the bend, so we have to communicate to people it’s a pub and I think we have nailed that on the head.

“It has been really heartwarming to see the support.”

The statement from Stansgate gives examples of other instances across the country where permission has been given for murals on listed buildings and highlights the benefits that have already been seen.

It says: ‘The mural captures the building’s heritage and has received overwhelming support from the local community since its creation which has in turn brought economic and social benefits.

‘The mural’s continued presence will assist with the public’s recognition of the building as a pub, in turn boosting passing trade for the business and attracting tourism to the village.

‘The building’s special, architectural and historic character will be preserved and the character of the Conservation Area will be enhanced by the increased social and economic activity’.