An Edinburgh mum has hit out at the council after she was ordered to change the colour of her front door, or risk a fine of 'up to £20,000'.
Miranda Dickson, 48, said she has been caught up in the "silly" situation after spending 18 months renovating her parents former home in the New Town.
Working for months on repairing a number of original features inside the property, Miranda told Edinburgh Live she had finished her refurbishment by painting her front door a "pale pink colour" in December, 2021.
Attracting a host of positive attention from locals and tourists who "stop to take pictures everyday", Miranda said she was surprised to receive a letter from Edinburgh City Council two months later regarding a complaint.
She said: "The final piece of the renovations that brought me the most joy was to paint the front door pink. 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?"
After failing to get to the bottom of what would be deemed suitable, Miranda had put the issue to the door to one side, however earlier this month she received an official Listed Building Enforcement Notice that she had now been ordered to make the change.
Warned she could receive a penalty notice of up to £20,000 if the colour is not removed and changed to white, Miranda is now formally appealing the decision.
She added: "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 Edinburgh City 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.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
-
Young woman opens up on horror abuse as rapist dad prepares for release from prison
-
Scots family 'fearing the worst' as search for missing man goes into third week
-
Scots kids 'should be taught about porn in schools' claims childhood sexuality expert
-
Rapist's death on remand at Scots prison to be probed in Fatal Accident Inquiry
-
Scots dad dies from cancer weeks after honeymoon following shock diagnosis
