Shop owner wins battle to keep business pink

wdnews@bepp.co.uk

A Gloucestershire shop owner has won a battle to keep her business painted pink following a row with Tewkesbury Borough Council.

Jan Minett was initially told by the authority that the bright new paint job she had carried out on the Cake and Sugarcraft Boutique, in Winchcombe, was too gaudy and would have to be re-done. She started a petition, vowing to beat the order, and gathered more than 150 names from supporters, and now the council has made a U-turn and agreed the pink frontage does not – after all – have a negative impact on the area.

Jan said yesterday: "I'm absolutely delighted with the decision. I'm grateful for the council for changing its mind and deciding that the shop didn't look bad in pink after all.

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"I would also like to say a big thank-you to everyone who has come forward to show their support for us. It was quite overwhelming. We had more than 150 people coming into the shop to sign the petition and that was without us going out looking for it. I'm just really pleased that common sense has prevailed."

Jan took over the premises, which was formerly home to Indian restaurant Raja Balti, in November, which is when the paint work was carried out. However, within weeks, she was contacted by the council who warned her the new pink exterior was "inappropriate" and would need re-doing. After reviewing the case, officers at the authority said although pink was not a colour it would normally recommend in a conservation area, this time they would allow it.

Paul Skelton, from the council, said: "Following a full review of this case we have decided not to take formal enforcement action against this breach of planning.

"In circumstances like this where permission hasn't been sought, particularly in a conservation area, we have to decide whether it is appropriate to take action. While the colour of the new shop front isn't traditional and is not one we would have advised using, we have taken the view it is not unduly harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area."