A BUSINESSMAN has been told he must remove a giant knife and fork from outside his Hereford café because he does not have planning permission – despite the sculptures being just metres away from where trees were cut back to the dismay of campaigners.

Bill Sewell, founder and owner of Hereford’s award-winning Cafe @ All Saints, commissioned the giant cutlery from Ambrose Burne, a metalworker and teacher based at Kington, to add interest and vibrancy to the church entrance.

But he has been told by the council that he has to remove the huge cutlery because he did not have permission to install the pieces – and that he would be unlikely to get it because the café is in a conservation area.

He has now reluctantly decided that the cutlery will have to go and has placed it on Ebay.

He said: “It was too expensive to apply for planning permission, particularly given they had given a strong steer they weren’t going to give it.

“I just think it’s a shame. I am not blaming individual people in the planning department – they are doing their jobs and doing what they are supposed to do – I just think there’s a problem with the system whereby something interesting and individual made by a local craftsman contributing both to the café and also the townscape is effectively barred from happening.”

The Hereford Times reported earlier this month how trees in Hereford’s Eign Gate were cut back by Balfour Beatty Living Places, in partnership with Herefordshire Council, to make sure that CCTV cameras could survey the whole of the street – much to the surprise of Herefordshire Tree Forum.

Campaigners in the group said trees in the city need to be preserved as they make the town attractive for visitors and have been provided with reassurance it won’t happen.

The knife and fork outside thecafe are made of iron, with the handles covered in recycled Illy- brand coffee tins.

The knife is about 3.2m high and the fork is 2.8m high. They each weigh about 70kg and have been bolted to the pavement to make them stable.

“I’m hoping that the BFG is looking for a new knife and fork,” added Mr Sewell.

“But seriously, they’re beautifully made sculptures and I’m sorry that they can’t have a permanent home outside All Saints, but it’s too expensive and time consuming to fight the council on this. Maybe there’s a country pub or someone with a big garden, for whom they could be really special.”

In a statement, Herefordshire Council said planning permission and listed buildings consent is required for all works (including the installation of additional structures) that affect the setting of listed buildings and ancient monuments.

“In this instance, planning officers, after consultation with conservation officers, made the applicant aware that they would not be able to support an application due to the impact on the setting of those features,” it said.

“Herefordshire Council would advise anyone looking to carry out works to seek advice before carrying out those works.”