Dover District Council orders pensioner Mary Kenny to repaint ‘lovely’ blue house in Deal – after only one neighbour complains | EUROtoday

An 82-year-old feels unfairly focused by her native council after being ordered to repaint her “lovely” blue house following a single grievance.

Mary Kenny, of West Street in Deal, invested over £3,000 in 2023 to refresh her property with cobalt blue paint, because it was “beginning to show wear and tear”.

However, Dover District Council (DDC) has now deemed the color “unsympathetic” to the Middle Street conservation space, demanding she redecorate in white or pale cream.

Ms Kenny mentioned there have been different vibrant properties in Deal, together with a vivid blue pub simply doorways away.

She mentioned that many neighbours had praised her house’s vibrant hue.

The pensioner has been given a six-month deadline to conform and has reluctantly begun the method of repainting her home white.

“Painting it blue has improved the street scene because it used to be very grotty,” the grandmother-of-three mentioned.

“It needed freshening up, and there were a couple of other homes painted blue, and I thought it was a lovely colour.

“I’m a little old lady of 82, so it’s very concerning to have to confront a problem like this, but I do feel I am owed an explanation as to why. I’m looking for some arbitration and accountability to explain the process. Everyone in the town should know how these decisions are made.”

Ms Kenny, a author, moved into the property in 2013 as she wanted a extra accessible house for her late husband after he suffered a stroke.

She mentioned that DDC first contacted her in regards to the new color scheme in 2024 after a resident raised a grievance. At the time, the authority solely suggested her to repaint the house, however it’s now taking enforcement motion because of the lack of motion.

Ms Kenny, who’s planning to attraction the discover, mentioned she has obtained constructive feedback from different neighbours in regards to the color scheme.

“I am willing to comply with the request to change the colour when I can afford to, and have made a start on the repainting, but I am appealing as I would like a hearing to make these judgements more transparent,” she mentioned.

“I was able to get my painter to come out one afternoon and start to put the new colour on, and I’ve asked if he can spare some more time. But I’ve informed DDC that I will appeal against the notice because, apart from everything else, I simply can’t afford to repaint it all.

“A really big part of the job is the scaffolding because I think it cost more than £1,000 last time and is probably more now.”

She added: “Other neighbours have told me they very much like the blue house, and The Alma pub, a few doors from me, is also painted a very bright and charming blue.”

A DDC spokesman confirmed the authority has issued an enforcement discover in opposition to Ms Kenny. Repainting a property wouldn’t usually require planning permission, however the authority says it’s wanted in Ms Kenny’s case as her house is in a conservation space.

The enforcement discover provides: “The painting of the exterior has, due to its inappropriate colour, resulted in a visually unsympathetic development.

“The inappropriate colour results in the building appearing visually dominant in the street scene, detracting from the visual harmony of the grouping of historic buildings.

“The painting of the dwelling, therefore, falls to preserve or enhance the conservation area and results in significant harm.”

Under the discover, Ms Kenny is required to color the house in white, off-white or cream inside six months from 1 May.

DDC added {that a} failure to conform might lead to prosecution or remedial motion by the authority.

However, it didn’t specify an accepted checklist of colors for repainting a house.