Shane Warne poster row leads to £5,000 wager
An Australian businessman has set Camden Council a £5,000 charity wager after he was ordered to remove a poster of cricket legend Shane Warne from his offices.
Carl Howell, chairman of Advanced Hair Studios, made the "light-hearted" challenge to town hall chiefs after being told to take down a six foot tall poster of the former Australian spinner from his UK headquarters in Fitzroy Square, Euston.
The council says the poster, which features Warne promoting the company's hair restoration services ahead of this month's Ashes Test series, was put up without planning permission.
But on Sunday Mr Howell said: "I'm prepared to offer the council a wager - if England win, we will take it down and pay £5,000 to the Camden Mayor's Charity Trust Fund. If we win, we can keep the poster up."
Warne, 39, who was renowned for "sledging" or intimidating opposition batsmen before retiring from Test cricket in 2007, said: "Camden Council should be relieved I'm not playing".
Mr Howell added: "The history between the Aussies and England is based upon having a good laugh together at the end of the series regardless of who wins." A spokeswoman for Camden Council said: "Following complaints from local residents the council has asked Mr Howell to remove the poster attached to his office building.
"Advanced Hair Studio occupies a Grade I listed building which means it is unsuitable for commercial advertising."
The spokeswoman added: "Mr Howell would need to apply for special consent to attach advertising to the building. Much as we appreciate the humorous side of Mr Howell's 'wager', the council has a duty to uphold conservation regulations for the benefit of all residents and businesses.
|
|
|
|
|
|