A PENSIONER who painted a giant picture of a horse on the side of his house says the council hates it – but he won't ever tear it down. 

Ronald Dillingham, 82, butted heads with Watford Council when he began restoring his house in Oxhey to how it would have been in 1900.

He installed new railings, a coach lamp and had a horse and cart professionally painted to honour the history of the greengrocers and stables which were at the property for 100 years.

But soon he had the borough council at his door telling him to get rid of the lot – because they claimed the changes were “harmful” as he lives in a conservation area.

Ron told Sun Online: “I was just trying to reinstate it as it would have been in 1900.

“I put the coach lamp up, and they didn’t like that one bit.

“The house used to have stables out the back so I thought while I was tidying the place up I’ll paint a horse and cart as well – like the ones that used to come out of here everyday.

“Someone made a complaint and I was told to wipe the lot out. They said it was ‘harmful’.

“They’ve never explained what they mean by ‘harmful’

“It’s only harmful to the person that’s looking at it and says ‘oh I don’t like that.’

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“One person might say it's harmful, but another person might say ‘I think it’s wonderful. It’s hard work.”

Watford council said that the changes were without planning permission – and when he applied for retrospective planning the application for the railings and light was refused.

But with the support of the community behind him, the council soon changed their minds and decided to take no further action.

'THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BEAT ME'

Ron explained: “It's a little earn for the council, isn’t it. That's why they’re doing it.

“I put back in retrospective planning and I had to pay – about £300 quid.

“But I had to get a plan done up so I had to give an architect £600 and it tots up.

“But they weren't going to beat me. There was so much aggro. How can you prove it's harmful? It's not harmful.”

"The other thing is that the mural is on my private property. It's down my drive.

"It will catch your eye, but you've got to come on to my property to look at it.

"Everyone seems to like it. Kids come by and they want to come up the driveway to look at it.

"150 people can like it, one man complains and they ask me to wipe the lot out. Where's the sense in that?"

LILAC HOUSE

It comes as another couple could also be forced to repaint their entire house after being told its lilac colour is "harmful" – just 200 ft down the road.

Kate Codrington, 55, and her partner Ian Davis, 62, hired a decorator to transform their yellow Hertfordshire home in August 2020.

They painted the entire exterior in a shade of lilac and updated the window frames in white.

But, after the revamp was completed, the couple were contacted by Watford Borough Council which had also received an objection by a mystery complainant about their property.

Similar to Ron, the couple received another blow from the Council last summer when it failed to back their retrospective planning application to turn the once-yellow property lilac.

A council officer ruled that colour was "harmful" to the surrounding conservation area and "unacceptable in its design".

Ron says that it is well known within the community who is making objections to the changes on the street.

He said: “We know who’s doing the complaining.

“He says the changes are out of character and it's out of this and out of that.”

“He also complained about my railings.

"150 people can like it, one man complains and they ask me to wipe the lot out. Where's the sense in that?"

While most of the neighbours are in support of the lavender colour, one resident told Sun Online he was less than happy with the change.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "It just means if they get to do that, it gives everyone free rein.

"If everyone can do whatever they want then all of a sudden the whole street will be one big stain on the community.

"All the council is doing is keeping people in check."

'ABOLISH' CONSERVATION AREA

The couple, who own the home on Caple Street, also had their retrospective planning application refused in September 2021.

Following the refusal, the couple launched a petition to "abolish" the conservation area and also recruited a heritage and townscape consultant to help shape an appeal which was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate last month.

In her report, consultant Nairita Chakraborty, who visited the property in October, explained why the council's decision should be overturned.

She acknowledged the council's motives to protect Oxhey Village's "special interest", but indicated the features of other properties within the village have lost their "consistency" and "uniformity".

She said the new lilac colour is not "garish" nor "unsympathetic" to the surrounding Victorian properties – nor is it "out of keeping" with the character of the local area.

The appeal is pending approval with the Planning Inspectorate. An inspector will decide whether to uphold or dismiss the appeal.

A spokesperson for Watford Borough Council said: “Protecting the town’s heritage is important for Watford residents. That’s why we have several conservation areas in the town.

"This means that specific buildings and monuments are safeguarded for future generations.

"If any changes to properties are suggested in these parts of Watford, we consider the area’s special character and appearance.  All applicants have the right to appeal decisions. We always follow the outcome of these.  

"Watford Council works closely with residents in Conservation Areas. It’s important that people know the rules that apply to their homes and we provide clear guidance on what is permitted."

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