Local restraunteur Bsharath ‘Paul’ Hussain couldn’t believe it when plans for a new sign for his landmark restaurant, The Kashmir, were rejected. The Local Planning Authority said it would be “detrimental to the visual amenities of the locality” and “would detract from the special architectural and historic interest of the Spital Hill Works”.
Bsharath, who has been serving sublime curries here since the mid 70s, said “Never in my wildest dreams did I think they would refuse permission. I’m right miffed.” A petition against the decision quickly attracted 200 signatures and the designers reduced the sign’s size as they prepared for an appeal. Then Bsharath saw his premises was due to be demolished in all three options in the Spital Hill Masterplan.
“Now I’m unsure how to proceed due to a lack of information. If your business is due for demolition it changes your whole life. We should have been informed in writing, not left to come across it at a roadshow.”
Handspring Design, who also designed the ‘Recycling Matters’ shop front opposite the Kashmir, said the planned sign “provided a beautiful sculptured artwork flowing around the building”.
Spital Hill has long been plagued by dereliction and lack of investment. Transforming it into a thriving multicultural hub for the whole city has always been at the top of the community’s agenda. Now the Council are making plans for major redevelopment. All the options include extensive demolition, with all the disruption that causes, but they won’t allow a local businessman to put up a new sign.