HOMEOWNER Geoff Oades says he is having to paint his windows because of a vendetta being waged by the council against the developer who built his home.

Mr Oades and his wife fell in love with the four bedroom house in Jarvis Street, Upavon, that had been built by Merston Developments of Devizes.

He particularly liked the light oak windows and doors which echoed the woodwork throughout the interior of the house.

Mr Oades said: "The estate agents told us that there was a minor planning issue involving the colour of the windows but that it would be resolved shortly.

"Local searches then revealed that a recent planning application by the developers for the retention of the light oak windows and doors had been granted."

In fact, this information, furnished by Kennet District Council, was wrong. Kennet planning officers were insisting that the windows were painted white as originally intended.

The developers lost an appeal against the decision and against an enforcement notice from Kennet.

But Mr Oades was in for a further shock. He said: "It came out that, under general permitted development, I would be able to return the windows to light oak after the windows had been painted white and approved.

"This stung the council which, in record time, issued a Notice of Direction under Article 4 (2) of Permitted Development Order that prevents me from doing this.

"I am left with the feeling that this has been a vendetta against the developer and we have been caught up in the middle."

Peter Triggs, the proprietor of Merston Developments, said: "I shudder to think how much this has cost council tax payers."

Senior Kennet planning officer Mike Wilmott denied there was any vendetta between himself and Peter Triggs.

He said: "What was approved was white windows and two inspectors agreed with us that any other colour devalues the conservation area in Upavon."