Mr Cassidy wants officers to dismantle the shade sails before he tackles painting the landmark’s street frontage.

“We will only do up the art deco Mall façade when Council removes the umbrellas [shade sails],” Mr Cassidy said. He could be in luck; their removal is scheduled to be discussed at the next meeting of Armidale Regional Council under the draft Mall vibrancy plan.

“The possible removal of the sails was a separate issue to the development application and was discussed when Mr Cassidy addressed Council some two or three years ago now,” Armidale Regional Council interim general manager Glenn Wilcox said.

“No resolution on the matter was made at that time with some consensus that the matter should be brought back to Council following further discussion about the matter.”

Now ratepayers will be asked their opinion when the Mall Vibrancy Plan is made public and open for discussion over a 28-day period.

The shade sails were installed as part of the former Armidale Council’s 2003 streetscape masterplan.

They cover a small playground and seating area near the Tattersalls Hotel.

Mr Cassidy said they were “unsightly up-side down sails” and he claimed he had been given verbal assurances they would be removed.

Interior designers Luchetti Krelle have suggested the facade be repainted in a blue-grey colour with a brick-red trim, heritage colours in keeping with the building’s art deco exterior. 

The hotel’s total revamp is estimated to cost $5 million.