A furious mum has been told she must change the colour of her front door - or face a fine of up to £20,000.
Miranda Dickson painted the front door of her Edinburgh home pink in December 2021 as part of renovations.
But just two months later the 48-year-old received a letter from City of Edinburgh Council telling her the door must be repainted a 'suitable' colour.
"The final piece of the renovations that brought me the most joy was to paint the front door pink," Miranda told Edinburgh Live.
"I looked at the planning guidance which said doors should be a dark or muted colour, and since it was a pale pink colour I thought it was fine.
"I received a letter in March to say we've had a complaint about your door and you need to change the colour of it.
So I said okay, and asked what colours can I use, and they said it had to be a 'suitable' colour. I asked for a book of colours that I could choose from but they said just said 'nothing bright or offensive.
"When I walk within five minutes of my front door I see a whole lot of other front doors that are bright and you're not telling them to change it. It all seems a bit silly. They said they wouldn't do it red at one point, but half the doors on my street are red?"
Miranda, who spent 18 months renovating her parents' former home, says the front door attracts a host of positive attention from locals and tourists who "stop to take pictures everyday".
To her surprise, the mum received an official Listed Building Enforcement Notice earlier this month which ordered her to make the change.
Suggesting Miranda paint the door white, the notice warns the mum she could be fined up to £20,000 if she does not oblige.
Miranda, who is formally appealing the decision, said: "On October 7 I received the enforcement notice and said I hadn't asked for planning permission to paint my door bright pink, but I've seen neighbours change theirs and haven't had to do this. It's a technicality I feel.
"It says I need to remove the unauthorised paint and paint it white, and if I don't the penalty can be £2,000 and then if I'm charged with the offence it can be £20,000 or a conviction of an indictment to an unlimited fine. I just find that nuts.
"Everyday people walk past the door and take photos of it, families pose in front of it, couples too, people are always there, so it suggests it brings more joy than anger and distress."
A spokesperson for the City of Edinburgh Council said: “The colour of the door is not in keeping with the historic character and appearance of this listed building in the New Town, part of our World Heritage Site.
“The owner agreed the door would be repainted, but as this work has not been carried out, we are taking enforcement action requiring them to repaint the door.”
