Not so pretty in pink! Couple ordered to repaint their entire house after …

Ann and Mark Kennedy decided to paint their 17th Century thatched cottage
Neighbour complained about colour and council ordered them to change it
Couple say colour is the same as when they bought house 12 years ago

By
Anna Edwards

PUBLISHED:

05:41 GMT, 30 July 2013

|

UPDATED:

07:58 GMT, 30 July 2013

When these homeowners decided to spruce up their ‘shabby’ Grade II listed home with a lick of paint, they probably thought that their neighbours would appreciate their efforts.

But Ann Kennedy and her husband Mark have learned the perils of a little DIY, after council officials ordered them to repaint their entire property because it is too pink.

The couple insist that their 17th Century thatched cottage is exactly the same colour today as it was when they bought it 12 years ago.

Ann Kennedy insists that her 17th Century thatched cottage is exactly the same colour today as it was when they bought it 12 years ago

Before the £1,000 paint job had even dried officials arrived threatening legal action unless the 'unauthorised' work was re-done in a subtler hue

Before the £1,000 paint job had even dried officials arrived threatening legal action unless the ‘unauthorised’ work was re-done in a subtler hue

However, town planners at Teignbridge District Council disagreed and ordered them to tone down their pink paintwork after a complaint from a neighbour.

The row began in November 2011 after the couple’s neighbours repainted their homes and they followed suit, giving their three-bedroom cottage a fresh new look.

They looked back at photos of their property from 2001, when they bought it for £130,000, and settled on a similar shade.

But before the £1,000 paint job had even dried officials arrived threatening legal action unless the ‘unauthorised’ work was re-done in a more subtle hue.

Retired dance teacher Ann, 64, who has three grown-up children, applied for retrospective planning permission from Teignbridge District Council.

This picture shows the cottage's condition when Ann and Mark Kennedy bought it 12 years ago

This picture shows the cottage’s condition when Ann and Mark Kennedy bought it 12 years ago

But the authority has denied her request and instead given the couple of Kennford, Devon, three years to repaint the entire house.

Ann said: ‘Everyone else had had their houses painted and ours was looking rather shabby. So we repainted it in its original colour – pink.

‘Before the paint was even dry we had the council knocking on the door saying we had to change the colour. They said it wasn’t in keeping with the area.

‘I think they’re totally wrong. It’s a beautiful colour and it’s been like that ever since we moved here 12 years ago.’

The council insisted consent must be obtained before any alterations are made to a listed building that are likely to affect its character or appearance.

A spokesman said: ‘Teignbridge District Council’s Planning Committee refused a retrospective application for the painting of a Grade Two listed cottage in Kennford.

‘The cottage was white but was painted a pale pink 13 years ago. In November 2011 it was repainted a bright pink colour by the current cottage owner.

‘It is this shade which is the subject of this decision.’

The comments below have not been moderated.

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How stupid and petty these council jobs worth are? Perhaps they have nothing better and more important to do. The Cottage owners have three years to comply withby which time the paint will have faded to a lighter shede of pink which should be sufficient to satisfy the council jobs worth …… or will they find something else to demonstrate their power over the little people.
By the way, this story was in the media publications a couple of months ago.

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jack
,

st austell,
30/7/2013 09:59

Short on news again DM? You published this story a while ago and I think THAT could have been a second time.

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Cooper
,

Cambridge,
30/7/2013 09:59

what a mess i dont blame the neighbour, however saying that if its 17th century there were very few colours available, so which period should the house match??

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von.k
,

southport, United Kingdom,
30/7/2013 09:56

It is only paint and fashions change and no doubt the cottage has been various colours over it life. Councils love to waste money and expect everyone else to do the same

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pb
,

blandford, United Kingdom,
30/7/2013 09:54

What a horrible colour.

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ChelseaFan
,

Cape Town,
30/7/2013 09:52

What would the idiots have said had the coule decorated in the same stylw as original with Cow dung and blood.
They The Council are manageing to convince the world that Common Sense has died in the UK

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Bob bielefeld
,

Bielefeld, Germany,
30/7/2013 09:51

I agree with Steve Of Townsville Aus, his coment gave me a good laugh!

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jassie2
,

llan,
30/7/2013 09:50

DM finding old news to pad out the pages AGAIN

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anon
,

anywhere, United Kingdom,
30/7/2013 09:49

I agree it looks an eyesore.. I wouldnt have given them 3 years to comply . Thank god we have laws some people have terrible taste.

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wind in the willows
,

Southampton, United Kingdom,
30/7/2013 09:46

You read it months ago, but it was the decision made yesterday that is causing it to be on here again! The council decided that it will have to be repainted in 3 years time. So it is NOT OLD NEWS!

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NuLabour-EU Despiser
,

Helston, United Kingdom,
30/7/2013 09:45

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