The owner of a nightclub in Swindon has failed in two attempts to overturn decisions by Swindon Borough Council.

Alan Mok who owns Kioki nightclub in High Street in Old Town applied in 2022 for retrospective permission to be allowed to keep the awning he had put in at the front of the club, enclosure of the rear terrace and most noticeably the two large Balinese-style head sculptures on the street at the front.

And last year Mr Mok applied for permission for an awning and illuminated signage at the front of the bar and club.

Both applications were refused by Swindon Borough Council planners, and both times Mr Mok appleade against those decisions.

But two different government-appointed planning inspectors found against Mr Mok and agreed with the borough council.

Mr Mok’s original application said: “The main original and characteristic features of the frontage of the building have been retained and enhanced. The proposal has resulted in an improvement to the frontage of the building as the careful painting and window replacements have a more visually appropriate appearance than the existing. As such the proposals are considered to preserve the significance of this part of the edge of the Conservation Area."

But inspector Emma Pickernell did not agree. She said the change of glazing and door did not fit with the surrounding area, nor did the awning.

And of the head statues she said: “They occupy a prominent position on the front elevation. Because of their overall size and scale against the relatively modest proportions of the host building the statues appear excessive in scale and overly dominant, thereby detracting from the character and appearance of the building and the area.

“The butcher statue on Wood Street is located to one side of the shop front to which it is associated and is a singular statue. As such it is not overly dominant in comparison with the appeal scheme.”

In the appeal against the decision not to allow the awning and illuminated signs, Mr Mok wanted to put at the front of the club, the inspector Gwilym Powys Jones said: “The awning spreads across virtually the entire width of the front elevation.

“Its positioning is such that it blatantly interferes with the form and features of the two distinctive window openings on either side of the front door.

“Its colour is described by the appellant as ‘natural green’, but I found it to be garish in the cold light of day.”

He allowed the illuminated signs to be kept.