The latest in the moo-ving story of the Kyloe Cow is that the appeal by owners Signature Pub Group to Scottish Ministers has failed. This means that the cow must be taken down from its vantage point high on the wall outside the West End restaurant.
In an interesting development it appears that the back half of the cow which is within the interior of the building does not require consent, so perhaps the owners will retain that half?
The almost life-size fibreglass cow was put up in 2011 and is an advert for the steak emporium. The owners contended that it was one of the most attractive adverts within the area.
The company originally applied to The City of Edinburgh Council to have permission granted for the cow but this was refused in May this year. The pub group then appealed that decision to the Scottish Ministers who have just refused their appeal, notwithstanding all of the company’s attempts to persuade the planning reporter otherwise. During their arguments they explained that during the tramworks it was necessary to do everything possible to identify the restaurant for passers by. The outside of the premises was described by the owners as ‘uninviting’ during the time of disruption.
A Save the Kyloe Cow petition was signed by around 2,600 people supporting the restaurant owners contention that it should be allowed to remain in place. Some people sent in comments suggesting that the council and the Scottish Government might have better things to do with their time.
The West End Community Council had suggested that a temporary permission be granted. All of this has fallen on deaf ears however and The reporter was keen to avoid setting any precedent for other advertising features such as this one. The decision is that the advertisement is ‘contrary to the interest of amenity’.
We asked Signature Pub Group for a comment but they declined.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
