Dover District Council orders pensioner Mary Kenny to repaint ‘lovely’ blue home in Deal – after just one neighbour complains
An 82-year-old woman feels unfairly targeted by her local council after she was ordered to repaint her “lovely” blue house following a single complaint.
Mary Kenny, of West Street in Deal, invested over £3,000 in 2023 to renovate her property with cobalt blue paint because it was “starting to show wear and tear”.
But Dover District Council (DDC) requested that it be redecorated in white or pale cream, deeming the color “frivolous” to the Middle Street conservation area.
Ms Kenny said there were other colorful properties in Deal, including a bright blue pub a few doors down.
He said many neighbors complimented his home’s vibrant hue.
The retiree was given six months to comply with this law and reluctantly began the process of repainting his house white.
“Painting it blue made the streetscape beautiful because it used to be so terrible,” said the grandmother of three.
“It needed freshening up and there were a few other houses painted blue and I thought it was a lovely colour.
“I’m a little old woman of 82, so it’s very concerning to have to face an issue like this, but I feel like I owe an explanation as to why. I’m looking for some arbitration and accountability to explain the process. Everyone in town should know how these decisions are made.”
Author Mrs Kenny moved to the property in 2013 because she needed a more accessible home for her late husband, who had suffered a stroke.
He said DDC first contacted him about the new color scheme in 2024 after a resident complained. At that time, the authority only advised him to repaint the house, but due to the lack of necessary precautions, administrative action is now being initiated.
Ms Kenny, who plans to appeal the warning, said she had received positive comments about the color scheme from other neighbours.
“I am willing to comply with the request to change color when I am able and have begun repainting, but I am appealing because I want a hearing to make these decisions more transparent,” he said.
“I was able to get my painter out one afternoon and start putting on the new color and asked him if he could spare a little more time, but I let DDC know that I would be appealing this announcement because, everything else aside, I couldn’t afford to repaint it all.
“A really big part of the job is the scaffolding because I think it cost more than £1,000 last time and probably more now.”
He added: “Other neighbors have told me they love the blue house and the Alma pub a few doors down from me is also painted a very bright and stunning blue.”
A DDC spokesman confirmed the authority had issued an enforcement notice against Ms Kenny. Repainting a property does not normally require planning permission but the authority says it was needed because Ms Kenny’s house was in a conservation area.
The enforcement notice adds: “The painting of the exterior has resulted in a visually unappealing development due to inappropriate colour.
“The inappropriate color causes the building to appear visually dominant in the street scene and disrupts the visual harmony of the grouping of historic buildings.
“Therefore, painting the house serves the purpose of protecting or enhancing the conservation area and causes serious damage.”
According to the notice, Ms. Kenny must paint the house white, off-white or cream within six months from May 1.
DDC added that failure to comply with the rules could lead to prosecution or corrective action by competent authorities.
But he did not specify an approved list of colors for repainting a house.
