Bile Beans sign appeal hits target (From York Press)

Bile Beans sign appeal hits target

8:11am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk

THE generosity of Press readers has ensured a “special” piece of York’s heritage will be getting a much-needed facelift.

Following an appeal for funds to pay for the repainting of the Bile Beans sign on the side of a building on Lord Mayor’s Walk, the money has been raised within weeks.

The request for help was sent out through The Press by York Civic Trust chairman Sir Ron Cooke after the cost of repainting the peeling sign – a favourite and unusual sight in the city for decades – was estimated at £1,600.

Offers of donations immediately started pouring in and now all that remains to be done is for a start date to be fixed.

“I’m extremely grateful to The Press and all its readers who have helped make this possible,” said Sir Ron, who is also advising York council on its Reinvigorate York city-centre facelift initiative.

“Raising the money necessary could not have been achieved through me simply writing to people, and the support and generosity has reminded me of what I already knew – that many York residents care very deeply about the quality of the city’s public realm.”