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Help for Lilac house woman
A PENSIONER who won a two-year fight to keep his historic house lilac is supporting a Clare woman involved in an identical battle.
Janice Daines of Clare has vowed to go to prison rather than repaint her own historic home. She hopes a previous similar case has set a precedent, which will lead to her eventual victory.
Mother-of-two Mrs Daines fell foul of St Edmundsbury Borough Council when she painted her grade II listed house in Callis Street, bright lilac without planning permission.
After 18 months of dispute over the house, Mrs Daines was recently ordered by the Council to repaint it a more suitable colour for the conservation area, but the defiant mother is refusing.
Ted Braunholtz, 71 of Sherbourne, Dorset has spoken out in favour of Mrs Daines and says local authorities should be less heavy handed in their actions.
In 1994 Mr Braunholtz clashed with West Dorset District Council, when he also painted his Grade II listed home lilac.
In almost identical circumstances to Mrs Daines’, Mr Braunholtz was also ordered to change the colour of his home due to its historical importance.
His home in Long Street, Sherbourne dates back to the 15th Century and is protected due to its moulded oak ceiling.
In the 1700’s, the home was owned by a local greengrocer Simon Pretor, who opened Dorset’s first ever bank.
As Mr pretor’s banking empire grew, his family purchased four homes in Long Street, one of which is now owned by Mr Braunholtz.
Like Mrs Daines, Mr Braunholtz defied council orders and battled to keep the home in his favoured colour.
After several rounds of planning hearings and an appeal, Mr Braunholtz’s case was put into the hand of the Planning Inspectorate who overruled the council’s original decision.
A spokesman for West Dorset District Council confirmed that in1996, the Planning Inspectorate found the colour to be not unreasonable, and Mr Braunholtz recorded a notable victory over the local authority.
He has now urged St Edmundsbury Borough Council to leave Mrs Daines alone.
“I think Janice’s home is fine, I cannot see anything wrong with it”, he said. “I think the local council should be a bit more reasonable and less heavy handed. I am very sympathetic to Janice’s cause and as long as it does not detract from the area it should not matter”, he added.
Mrs Daines is remaining defiant in her own case and is lodging an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
She said: “I am delighted Mr Braunholtz is supporting me. His house is more historically important than mine, so if lilac is good enough for Dorset it is good enough for Suffolk”.
“I think my home is a lovely colour and I am not going to change it…I just hope the appeal goes my way in August”.
St Edmunsbury planners say the house should be repainted in a colour that reflects the historical context of the area. Acceptable colours are those that use a natural pigment such as white, cream, dark yellow and even dark red.
Story By: Patrick Lowman
Date : 01-06-2001
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