• Swindon & Wiltshire Property
• Friday September 25 2026

Marlborough retailer ordered to lose her stripes

A retailer has been told the striking stripes she painted on the front of her historic shop must go.

At a meeting of Wiltshire Council’s Eastern Area Planning Committee, members voted by five votes to two to refuse Listed Building Consent to Isabella Wookey, the owner of independent fashion, homeware and gift boutique Willow & Wolfe.

The retailer, who opened her business in an 18th century, Grade II listed building on Marlborough High Street in 2018, hoped to catch the eye of shoppers by painting pink and burgundy stripes on the façade of the property.

But she also caught the attention of planning officials at Wiltshire Council, who last October issued an enforcement notice telling her to remove the stripes.

In March this year the entrepreneur applied for retrospective Listed Building Consent to keep the decoration.

The decision was made by the same committee which, in April, voted by 5-3 to allow publican and fellow Wiltshire Council member Jerry Kunkler to keep a massive painted St George cross on the outside of his Grade II listed pub, The Moonrakers Inn in neighbouring Pewsey.

But officers – and some members – were at pains to point out that the previous decision had not set a precedent, and that Willow & Wolfe’s application should be determined on its own merits.

“There is no precedent in planning” said committee chairman Philip Whitehead. But he added that if this application went unchallenged “we would struggle to say no to the shop next door.”

Planning officers said the stripes were detrimental to the appearance of the shop, and “visually distracting” to the wider conservation area.

The applicant was supported by Marlborough’s two Wiltshire Councillors: Kym-Marie Cleasby (Marlborough East, Liberal Democrat) who has a seat on the committee, and Jane Davies (Marlborough West, Conservative) who does not. She was allowed to make a statement, but did not get a vote.

Both sit on the planning committee of Marlborough Town Council, which offered no objection to the application providing the paint was suitable for use on historic building materials – they were assured it is.

Cllr Davies, in whose ward the shop is situated, said she was “blown away” when she first saw the stripes. “It was controversial at first, but opinion has settled into it being an asset to High Street,” she said.

“It is important to support independent traders. It’s not doing any harm to the physical building,” said the councillor, who is a professional historic buildings paint specialist with 30 years’ experience.

She added: “The Pewsey one was more controversial. I don’t see how you can say yes to that one and no to this one.”

Cllr Cleasby said: “I’m struggling to see what the harm is here. There is an established decorative variety in Marlborough High Street, and this shop adds to it.

“It enhances our beautiful, historic High Street immensely.”

Cllr Maria Hoult (Devizes South, Conservative) asked the council’s conservation officer: “If the applicant couldn’t have stripes, what would you suggest?”

“We try not to be the colour police,” responded the officer.

Cllr Ross Henning (Chippenham Lowden & Rowden, Liberal Democrat) said he “quite liked” the decoration, but said planning regulations needed to be followed.

“This committee is not a street art appreciation society,” he said.

Cllr Taylor Wright (Devizes East, Liberal Democrat) said: “I think it looks fantastic. High streets are struggling at the moment, and anything we can do to make them more interesting is good.”

Cllr Chris Vaughan (Trowbridge Park, Reform UK) said it looked sweet, but “If we keep saying yes, it becomes harder to say no.”

Cllr Paul Oatway (Pewsey Vale West, Conservative) said he was “seriously concerned” about the application. “Marlborough High Street is unique and its heritage is important,” he said.

Councillors Cleasby and Wright voted in support of the applicant, with the remaining five supporting the officers recommendation to refuse listed building consent.

After the meeting, Isabella Wookey told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she was disappointed by the result.

“We are incredibly proud to be part of Marlborough’s beautiful and historic High Street,” she said.

“We care deeply about its heritage and character, but believe there should also be room for colour, creativity and a little joy.

“With high streets everywhere under enormous pressure, independent businesses like Willow & Wolf bring character and life to our towns and give people reasons to visit. The stripes have brought real joy to the High Street and, we believe, helped put Marlborough on the map.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from people across Marlborough and far beyond, so we are deeply disappointed by a decision that feels at odds with the strength of local feeling.

“We remain keen to work constructively with the council to find a positive way forward and will now take some time to consider the decision, including whether to appeal.”