The owner of a dry cleaner's has been ordered to repaint her bright orange and blue shop after council chiefs accused its appearance of doing 'harm' to a historic market town.
But she said she was unaware planning permission should have been sought first because of the building's history and its place in the posh town's conservation area. 'As the rules haven't mattered for the last 20 years, I can't see why another 18 months would be such an issue.' Marianne Rawlins, who runs Stork of Stamford, was also ordered to repaint her town shop after council officers said the colours were 'harming' a listed building
She said: 'I very much hope the council will take a pragmatic and supportive stance and work with small independent retailers to ensure that by improving the look of the High Street they don't immeasurably damage it by driving independents out of business.' Residents in Cornwall argue that a former camera shop was out of keeping with the rows of magnolia-painted houses and shops
'But the council won't touch the big guns, they just seem content on targeting the smaller businesses.' Another example of business owners facing stiff opposition from councils over the colour of their shop was Christopher Nevill in Kent. He was threatened with jail time by his local council for painting 16th century shopfront pink
Marianne plans to resubmit her application and hopes it will be approved so she can 'eventually stop talking about paint'. The killjoy local authorities use planning regulations to stop entrepreneurs from painting their shop's distinctive colours such as yellow, pink and gold. The shop owner says she was given a deadline of the end of September to resubmit a planning application and now believes they may take her to court
The landlord was threatened with prison time by his local council after giving his 16th-century shopfront a pink paint job.