The owners of a Braemar business have told to rip out their four-year-old windows and front door after falling foul of conservation regulations.
Councillors yesterday voted awarding the 4-star Castleton Cottage self catering retrospective planning permission for improvements.
The business, on School Road, falls within the village’s conservation area and as such is required to install wooden framed windows.
Owner Sandra Stewart, however, replaced the windows and door four years ago using uPVC windows that imitate a wooden effect.
Though they were described as smart by councillors who also accepted they looked like wood, they nonetheless told owner Mrs Stewart they will have to go.
Last night she said she was “gutted” at the decision, which followed a hug vote that required chairwoman Moira Ingleby to break the deadlock.
Mrs Stewart said she didn’t have enough money to replace the £8,000 windows and had hoped her “eco-friendly” panes would have been granted permission.
Councillor Geva Blackett sympathised with Mrs Stewart and said: “It was very difficult decision. On one hand the windows look like wood and they don’t look scruffy, but on the other they are not in line with the conservation area policy.
“I do wonder though, where the plastic windows will end up. It seems a waste for them to go to landfill.”
Peter Argyle said that the planning policy should be applied “consistently and fairly”.
“Just because they have been in for four years is not a good enough reason for approval,” he said.
“It will now be up to council officers to implement the enforcement.”