Edinburgh’s New Town: Miranda Dickson's off-white, light pink door is just fine. City council surely can't make her repaint for a third time?! – Euan McColm

It’s hardly surprising that Miranda Dickson now feels that this has become personal and she is being bullied

I spent the best part of six years living on the edge of Edinburgh’s New Town and let me tell you something – I soon lost count of the number of petitions I was asked to sign. I was invited to protest developments, to mark my opposition to the change of use of buildings and even, on one occasion, to join a chorus of complaint about a proposed new gate which would improve access to a local park on the grounds that the place would “soon be overrun”.

Because I try not to be an exhausting bastard, I refused to join in any of these campaigns. I found the nimbyish, small-mindedness unbearable. What sort of person lies awake at night worrying more people might enjoy the benefits of a stroll in the park?

Having been hardened by my years on the mean streets of the New Town, I was far from surprised to learn of the latest scandal gripping the community. The war of the pink door seems perfectly to encapsulate a certain New Townish outlook.

What is so objectionable about this off-white, pink blush door? (Picture: Alan Young)

If you are late to events, let me fill you in. Last year, Miranda Dickson (good, solid New Town name, that, but it has counted for nothing) received a notification from the city council’s planning department that, unless she repainted the front door of her home on Drummond Place, she faced a fine of up to £20,000. Dickson’s choice of a perfectly pleasant pink colour had provoked the ire of neighbours who demanded – anonymously, of course – action.

Dickson gave in and had the door painted green. It was – naturally – the wrong shade of green. Council officials declared it inappropriate for use in a World Heritage Site. Facing ongoing threats of action, Dickson had her front door repainted again. It is now a rather boring off-white colour.

Of course, this is not an end to the matter. The council has written to the homeowner, accusing her of painting the door pink, again. Look, I get the importance of protecting buildings of great historic and architectural importance. Edinburgh’s New Town is a glorious space, full of impressive townhouses and apartments which should be maintained.

But the matter of what colour someone chooses to paint their front door is one of taste, not preservation. Edinburgh planners do not, as a rule, concern themselves with the colours of people’s front doors unless a complaint is made. This means that, across the New Town, one may see woodwork painted in a range of bright colours and, so long as nobody speaks up, no action will be taken.

It’s no surprise Dickson feels this has become personal and that she is being bullied. A good rule for life, I think, is to remind oneself that everyone is fighting their own battles. A little kindness towards others is good for the soul. Anyone obsessing about the colour of someone’s door would do well to remember this.

Edinburgh City Council has indulged the complainants in this matter more than enough. If blush pink is good enough for a New Town gentleman’s corduroys, it’s good enough for Miranda Dickson’s front door.