October 5th 2024.
The owner of Peters' Cleaners in Stamford made the bold decision to paint their shop front in shades of blue and orange. However, this choice has caused quite a stir among the local council. They claim that the bright colors are not suitable for the historic market town and have ordered the owner, Vicky Whiter, to repaint the frontage of the building without proper planning permission.
Vicky had hoped to give her business a fresh new look by painting it in October of 2022. However, she was unaware that she needed planning permission due to the building's historical significance and its location in a conservation area. Despite this, Vicky stands firm in her decision and is refusing to spend thousands of pounds to repaint the shop front.
The council, on the other hand, is considering taking legal action against Vicky if she does not comply with their demands. Vicky has reached out to the council in a letter, asking for more flexibility and time to fix the mistake. She has even proposed a timeline for the changes to be made by December 2026. Vicky believes that this would give enough time for all independent retailers to comply with the rules, as they have not been enforced for the past 20 years.
According to Vicky, the previous dark blue color of the shop front made it blend into the street scene. She chose the new blue color as a nod to the original color, and the orange was selected as a complementary color that is often seen in nature during sunrises and sunsets. Vicky also added vinyl in the brand's colors to protect her staff from the sun's glare, as the shop receives a lot of natural light throughout the day.
Redesigning and repainting the shop front would cost Vicky around £4,000 to £5,000, which is not feasible for her at the moment. She hopes that the council will take a more supportive approach and work with small independent retailers to improve the town's appearance without driving them out of business.
The council has stated that they are willing to work with Vicky to come up with a new color scheme and timeline for the changes. However, they have not confirmed whether they are willing to work with Vicky's proposed timeline. Vicky believes that this is a bullish attitude, and it is unfathomable that the council would not support independent businesses that are the heart and soul of the town.
When asked about the consequences for not repainting the shop front, the council did not provide an answer. According to the Stamford Shopfront Design Guide, the maximum penalty for breaking the rules is two years in prison and an unlimited fine. The guide recommends using neutral colors for slender shopfronts and a single color for all major design elements. However, there is no specific color chart dictating which shades are allowed.
Many shops in Stamford have eye-catching colors, such as Oliver Bonas with its pink exterior and Joules with its bright yellow facade. Other independent businesses, like Stork of Stamford, have also faced similar issues with the council. The owner, Marianne Rawlins, was ordered to repaint her shop after the council deemed that the colors were harming the listed building. After resubmitting her plans, Marianne is now waiting for approval to put an end to this paint debacle.
The locals have expressed their outrage at the council's extreme actions towards independent businesses like Vicky and Marianne's. They believe that it is unfair, especially when big chain stores with equally bright colors are not targeted. It is a shame that these small businesses are being penalized for trying to improve the town's appearance while big corporations seem to get a free pass.
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