A pensioner claims she is being unfairly targeted by her local council after being ordered to repaint her blue home following just one complaint. Mary Kenny, 82, of West Street in Deal, spent more than £3,000 painting her house a cobalt shade in 2023 to refresh its appearance. However, Dover District Council (DDC) has now issued an enforcement notice requiring her to redecorate in white or pale cream, citing the colour as 'unsympathetic' to the Middle Street conservation area.
Background of the Dispute
Mrs Kenny, a writer, moved into the property in 2013 to accommodate her late husband after he suffered a stroke. She says she chose the blue colour because several other homes in the area were painted similarly, and she believed it improved the street scene. 'Painting it blue has improved the street scene because it used to be very grotty,' she said. 'It needed freshening up, and there were a couple of other homes painted blue, and I thought it was a lovely colour.'
DDC first contacted her about the colour in 2024 after a resident raised a complaint. Initially, the authority only advised her to repaint, but due to lack of action, it has now taken enforcement steps. Mrs Kenny has been given six months from May 1 to comply and has reluctantly started repainting the property white.
Appeal and Financial Concerns
Mrs Kenny plans to appeal the notice, arguing that the decision-making process lacks transparency. '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,' she said. 'I’m looking for some arbitration and accountability to explain the process. Everyone in the town should know how these decisions are made.'
She also highlighted the financial burden, noting that repainting costs are high, especially for scaffolding, which previously cost over £1,000. 'I simply can’t afford to repaint it all,' she added. '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.'
Community Support
Despite the council's stance, Mrs Kenny says many neighbours have complimented her home's colour. '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,' she noted. The pub, located just a few houses away, is painted a similar bright blue, raising questions about consistency in enforcement.
Council's Position
A DDC spokesman confirmed the enforcement notice, stating that repainting in a conservation area requires planning permission. The notice reads: '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 council warns that failure to comply could lead to prosecution or remedial action by the authority, though it does not specify an approved list of colours.
Mrs Kenny is determined to fight the order, seeking a hearing to make such judgements more transparent. She has already begun repainting but insists the process should be fair and affordable for residents.
