York Civic Trust has blasted the "deplorable" state of paintwork on Lendal Bridge, urging City of York Council to spend money refurbishing the "sorry mess."

Merlins, in George Hudson Street, York

And the Trust has handed out a series of other brickbats and bouquets in its annual report, for what it views as good, bad and ugly developments in the city.

The Trust pulls no punches in attacking the "atrocious" colour of the exterior paint at Merlins and McMillans pubs in George Hudson/Rougier Street.

It says planning laws do not control the colour of paint which individuals use on their premises and the most shocking pink can be used in York's historic streets without anyone preventing it.

"The colour of both of them (Merlins and McMillans) is quite atrocious and shows a complete lack of taste on the part of the brewery companies concerned," says the report.

"Sadly, this is what we have come to expect - a sense of history or aesthetic is not something in the brewers' guide book."

But the bars defended the colours, a spokesman saying: "What someone may see as unattractive, another may see as colourful and progressive. We would be happy to meet a representative of the Trust and discuss these issues."

The report is also critical of breweries which change the names of pubs, saying: "If their taste in names is indicative of the taste of their beer we would be better sticking to wine."

Another target for the trust's ire is The Slug and Lettuce, in Grape Lane, which is criticised for its choice of name. "This restaurant has ... a most unfortunate name. Slugs are hardly the sort of creatures to command admiration," says the report.

At Lendal Bridge, the report says: "The present condition of the paintwork is deplorable. The whole thing is a sorry mess." It says tens of thousands of visitors to York cross the bridge every day during the season to walk into the city centre. "What must they think of it?"

The trust says it has previously offered to repair the armorial bearings if the council were to repair the rest of the bridge paintwork. "Surely if we want to encourage tourism, the city council shouyld be prepared to put money into something like this."

But a spokesperson for the council defended the state of the bridge, saying: "Due to our limited funds, pre-emptive structural repairs take priority over other types of work. We will, however, be re-surfacing the road on the bridge in the near future."

The report is not all criticism, however; there is praise aplenty for the restoration of the Stubbs' Victorian hardware store premises in Fossgate. "Messrs Stubbs are to be very warmly congratulated."

Tourist open-top buses are blamed for obstructing the classic view of the Art Gallery at Bootham Bar, where up to four buses at a time have been known to wait in the square in front of the gallery, blocking the view. The Civic Trust would like to see the buses banished from this area.

And there are Civic Trust pats on the back for Pizza Hut for the renovation of their premises in Pavement, the Cells for their Parliament Street pavement tables and the City Council for the new bridge over the Foss near Foss Islands Road.

Barclays Bank also qualify for a pat on the back for the construction of a new ramp outside its premises in Parliament Street. The much-needed ramp was constructed 'appropriately' to match the Victorian building.

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