A gin company has been ordered to repaint its bright purple shop by 'bureaucratic' council chiefs - after just a single complaint about the colour.
Andrew Richardson, 60, has been at loggerheads with the council since last October over the colour of his shop House of Boë.
He painted the shop on South Queensferry High Street, near Edinburgh, purple last June. But he was issued with an enforcement notice after the council received a complaint about the colour.
The City of Edinburgh Council said it was an offence to paint a listed building in a conservation area without consent and order him to repaint it.
Boë Gin director Andrew appealed the decision and launched an online petition for the shop to retain its colourful paint, which was signed by nearly 1,500 people. But last week the Scottish Government upheld the council's ruling.
Andrew said the decision makes no sense as the shop is on one of the most colourful streets in Edinburgh - and said he will have to fork out £4,000 to repaint it.
Dad-of-two Andrew said: "It's really disappointing because we thought we had made a strong case. The council said the shop is in keeping with the High Street, that wasn't the issue.
"But because the building next to us is stone they said the paint is not in keeping with that and it needs to be. It just seems such a nonsense.
"The pub across the street from us is painted black, red and white - so it doesn't add up. I am not even exactly sure what colour they want me to paint it now.
"It has to be a 'muted' tone, so I assume grey. It's going to cost us £4,000 to paint it back which is really expensive, especially when it's not the easiest time for people in retail.
"We really could have done without this, it makes no sense. And this is all because of one single complaint, if that hadn't been made this wouldn't have happened."
Andrew said he had no idea he needed the council's permission before painting the shop. He slammed the council for a 'narrow minded' approach and said locals don't want a dull high street
Andrew said: "I fully appreciated we should have checked before we painted the building. But it's my shop and it's on a colourful high street so I honestly didn't think it would be an issue.
"Locals have told us the paint has helped brighten up the street, no one wants a grey high street. But the council don't care what the local people want, that's not part of their decision making process.
"There is no way to appeal this now, the decision has been made and that's the end of it, there is nothing we can do."
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