A TURKISH barber has pledged to let locals decide the colour of his new shop in Chippenham after horrifying some by painting it bright yellow.

Baban Ghafoor, 28, from Istanbul, left some people appalled after his staff painted the front of his new Turkish Style Barber shop five to six days ago.

Now he faces legal action from Wiltshire Council conservation and planning enforcement officers to get it repainted.

Mr Ghafoor, who has moved to Chippenham from Bristol, is the new lease owner of the Grade 2 listed property at 54 Market Place.

He paid some of his staff to repaint the frontage bright yellow as part of his £20,000 investment in his new business which opened on Monday (May 23).

He also put up new shop signage without first obtaining advertising and listed building planning consent.

Mr Baban today apologised for his errors and says he will let Chippenham townspeople pick a new colour.

“I decided on the bright yellow because in the town centre there are a few other yellow shops.

“I just found a yellow looking good and then just did exactly the same.”

The town’s new mayor Councillor Liz Alstom said: "It has kicked up a lot of a stir. I received some complaints and went last weekend to see what has happened.

“I have been in touch with a Building Conservation Officer at Wiltshire Council regarding the works that have taken place to the exterior of 54 Market Place which is a Grade II listed building and sits within a conservation area.

"I have been advised that this case is live with the Planning Enforcement team at present and the assessing officer has been advised of the concerns raised by colleagues within the conservation team.

“The town council is also aware of the situation and will be writing to Wiltshire Council. I will provide further updates when I find out more."

Cllr Nick Botterill, Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Development Management said: “Changing the colour of paintwork by more than a couple of shades on a listed building requires Listed Building Consent, and changes to signage requires Advertisement Consent and Listed Building Consent.

"We can confirm that no consent has been obtained for these works.

“The planning enforcement team, in conjunction with conservation officers, are investigating the unauthorised works carried out.

"As this investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”