COLOUR 'POLICE' have cracked down on one of Haverfordwest's most prominent buildings.

Pembrokeshire County Council's style officers saw red after estate agents, West Wales Properties, painted their Haverfordwest riverfront premises a bright Victorian Blue!

The company is now appealing against an enforcement notice issued to change the colour of their premises at 12, Victoria Place. The hearing should take place in January.

The authority's action could have a knock-on effect on the estate agents other properties in Pembroke, Tenby, Narberth and Milford Haven, which are the same colour.

And other colourful buildings could be the next target.

Already enforcement action is being taken against the nightclub 5:AMS in Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, which has a bright red base.

West Wales Properties principal, Mr Neil Evans, said: We took a lot of trouble to get the colour right and, after consulting Dulux, we chose Victorian Blue from their heritage range.

'After all, it is a Victorian building in Victoria Place, Haverfordwest. We have had support from the public and from the Chamber of Commerce and wonder why we have received an enforcement notice when there are other worse colours in the town. There is a property opposite with three different colours.'

Mr Evans said: 'We asked the county council for details of their colour policy and they dont have one.'

He added that the proximity of the river and a taxi rank, where the cabs constantly run their engines and people gather at three and four in the morning, means paintwork gets grubby quickly and the previous light colour required repainting after six months.

At Wednesday's Haverfordwest Town Council meeting, planning chairman, Councillor Beryl Thomas-Cleaver, said the owners were given subdued alternative colours, but used a colour not agreed in the planning consent. The Georgian Society had also become involved.

Councillor Barbara Shone said: 'I have never heard such a subjective point of view where the officers decide what they like or dont like. They werent around in Georgian times to see what colours they were painted.'

A county council spokesman said: 'The property is listed and as such the council can exercise control over the colour scheme. Case law exists which states that the painting of a listed building in certain colours can affect that buildings architectural character and this was the contention in this particular instance.

'The council was involved in discussions with the owners at an early stage of the renovation. Regrettably, they decided to ignore the authority's advice and continue with their chosen colour scheme.'

What do you think about the Victorian Blue colour? Send your views to: News Editor, Western Telegraph, Merlins Bridge, Haverfordwest, SA61 1XF.

Victorian blues for West Wales Properties premises (left) and some of the town's other brightly coloured buildings. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.