Peters’ Cleaners, which has been operating for over 60 years (Image: SWNS)
A dry cleaners has been told to change its shop frontage for causing “harm” to the character of a historic market town – after it was painted blue and orange without planning permission. Peters’ Cleaners, which has been operating for over 60 years on St Paul’s Street in Stamford, Lincs – an area previously named “Britain’s most picturesque town.”
Owner Vicky Whiter gave the business a new lick of paint in October 2022 as part of rebranding plans to uplift its outdated appearance. However, she didn’t realise that planning permission should have been sought first due to the building’s history and its place in the posh town’s conservation area.
Vicky has now been told she must fork out thousands of pounds to repaint the shop front after it was deemed “unacceptable” by her local council. Locals have branded the decision “extreme” considering the independent business is just down the road from brightly-coloured Dominos, Subway and O2 stores.
Vicky said she was left shocked when she was sent an enforcement notice telling her the new look was not appropriate for a listed property in a conservation area.
She added: “Until they wrote me a letter I didn’t even know these rules existed. My landlady who owns a number of other shops wasn’t aware of them. I’m still not actually clear about what is allowed.”
South Kesteven District Council has criticised shop owner Vicky for not respecting the traditional look of her shopfront. Despite submitting a retrospective planning application in November, which was refused this week, Vicky insists that the chosen colours were meant to respect the history and character of the building.
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Vicky explained: “We have always been blue but we felt the whole brand needed a lift and to be modernised.” She added: “It is hard to make your shop stand out.”
She also expressed her concerns about visibility from the High Street, saying: “Where we are, you can’t see our shop from the High Street so we want people to notice it when they walk by.”
Discussing the financial implications, Vicky said: “The reality of the situation is that in order to pay for this, I will have to put up prices by more than I already need to, which we don’t want to do but I just simply don’t have the money.”
She offered a solution, stating: “If the council wishes to pay, I am happy to re-paint.” However, she questioned the council’s decision, saying: “I am also not really sure how this puts the fabric of the building in risk it all seems a little overdramatic.”
Vicky now has six months to revert the shop to its original blue colour, a task she estimates will cost over £2,500. She does have the right to appeal the decision.
Despite the setback, Vicky remains understanding, saying: “I am totally OK with the fact they want to change the colours, if they are the rules they are the rules.
“What I’m not OK with is nobody seems to be conscious or care about the financial situation.”
Vinyl was also added in the brand colours to protect the staff from the sun which shines into the shop for the majority of the day making it difficult to see.
The alternative to the vinyl would be to put in blinds, which Vicky fears could catch dust due to all of the fabrics and make the shop appear closed.
Regular customer Jack Harris, 47, of Stamford, slammed the council’s decision and said: “It’s a bit harsh to say the least – its hardly a garish colour and looks smart.
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“They have been in the town for decades and the council should be supporting independent businesses not trying to kill them off.”
Another regular Thomas Bradley, 37, added: “It’s very extreme. It’s no brighter than Dominos, Subway, O2 and Vodafone down the road.
“But the council won’t touch the big guns, they just seem content on targeting the smaller businesses.”
Lodging objections to the building’s new look, Stamford Town Council’s response to the application was: “The proposed colours are not an appropriate choice of colour for this property in the conservation area.
Vicky said she was left shocked when she was sent an enforcement notice (Image: SWNS)
“The previous colour scheme is acceptable.”
South Kesteven District Council, the planning authority, was also not won over by the plans and ordered Peters’ Cleaners to be repainted.
A report by the council’s conservation officer, James Adams, said the proposals “detract from the streetscape”.
TV Apprentice star Marianne Rawlins is also embroiled in a row with the council about the colour of her baby and toddler shop in Stamford
Marianne also claims she was unaware of the rules and has submitted a retrospective application to keep the shop in its new yellow and black colours.
She said previously: “I’m a little surprised. I think we have done a great job to preserve the heritage of the building.”
“The last thing we want to do is detract from the character – we tried to accentuate it more than anything else.”
