Vicky Whiter, owner of Peters’ Cleaners in Stamford, Lincolnshire, could even be taken to court if she refuses to repaint her shop front, which she recoloured 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’.
Ms. Whiter 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given the business on St Paul’s Street a new lick of paint in October 2022 as part of rebranding plans to uplift its outdated look.
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.
But Ms. Whiter is standing firm after being told she must fork out thousands of pounds to repaint the shop front.
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.’
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 planning application and now believes they may take her to court.
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