Peters’ Cleaners in Stamford opted for blue and orange paint (Picture: SWNS)
A business owner ordered to change her blue and orange shop front for causing ‘harm’ to the character of a historic market town could be taken to court after refusing to repaint it.
Vicky Whiter was told she must alter the frontage of Peters’ Cleaners in Stamford, Lincolnshire, after she painted it bright colours without planning permission.
Council chiefs said the choice of blue and orange was ‘unacceptable’ for a listed property in a conservation area in a town branded ‘Britain’s most picturesque.’
Vicky had given the business on St Paul’s Street a new lick of paint in October 2022 as part of rebranding plans to uplift its outdated appearance.
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.
Defiant Vicky is now standing firm after being told she must fork out thousands of pounds to repaint the shop front.
The council is considering taking the owners to court (Picture: SWNS)
She is asking planning officers from South Kesteven District Council for more flexibility and time to correct the mistake – but faces court action if they refuse.
In a letter, she said: ‘I budget to re-decorate the shop front every four years and will happily adhere to all planning when I plan to re-decorate in the summer of 2026.
‘At this time however I cannot put the survival of my business at risk by spending now. It would help me and other independent retailers immeasurably if the council worked with us to agree a more flexible timetable with a view of bringing everyone in line by December 2026.
‘As the rules haven’t mattered for the last 20 years, I can’t see why another 18 months would be such an issue.’
Vicky believes the shop, which was painted a plain dark blue, got lost in the street scene so she was keen to make it stand out.
The new blue is similar to the original dark blue colour with the orange chosen as its ‘nature’s natural complement to blue in sunrises and sunsets’.
Vicky says she doesn’t see the issue (Picture: SWNS)
She said the vinyl was also added in the brand colours to protect the staff from the sun which shines into the shop for the majority of the day.
Vicky believes redesigning and redecorating the shop will cost between £4,000 and £5,000 – which she ‘cannot warrant spending at this time’.
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.’
A spokesperson for South Kesteven District Council said in February it was happy to work with the applicant to agree both a new colour scheme and a timescale for the repainting of the shop front.
When asked again this week, a spokesman said the council’s position had not changed and did not confirm whether they are willing to work to the timescale Vicky has suggested.
However, the shop owner says she was given a deadline of the end of September to resubmit a …read more
Source:: Metro
