ELECTRICAL engineer, Andrew Holmes and his wife Joyce are seeing red regarding a grey decision by Teignbridge Council Development Control Committee, and are taking their case to appeal with the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.
They put in a planning application for a single storey extension to their home in 66 Longfield Avenue, Kingsteignton, which was passed, but the committee made a condition that the roof tiles should be brown.
Unfortunately the builder could not get brown tiles because they were unavailable at the time, and instead put on grey tiles.
Mr Holmes said this week there were three building regulation inspections before completion.
The couple received their completion certificate on November 28 and 16 days later received a letter from Teignbridge Council saying the work was in non-compliance.
'We were astounded and so were some of our neighbours when they turned it down. A Teignbridge Council officer came along to check the work and she said it was completed satisfactorily.
'As soon as we had the certificate and the officer said everything was alright we paid the builder,' said Mrs Holmes.
At a recent development control committee members voted for the solicitor to take enforcement action so that the tiles are brown.
It had brought the comment from Cllr Humphrey Clemens: 'Is it any wonder people wonder whether they get value for money when we spend time on something so trivial as this. You can hardly notice it.'
Cllr Mike Walters had also maintained the tiles should remain.
Mr Holmes said it was not as if the tiles were totally out of context with the area. Across the road there is an estate with orange, grey and brown tiles.
'It would cost approximately £2,000 to change the roof tiles.
'What is annoying is that if, for any reason, anyone has to change the roof, by the regulations you can put on any colour you like,' he claimed.
Mr Holmes thanked Cllr Walters and other Teignbridge councillors who had spoken on the couple's behalf.
'We appreciate the effort they have put in,' he said.