A PETITION has been raised in Innerleithen in support of a businesswoman who breached local planning policies when she painted the frontage of her shop purple.

Last month, Martha Gibson failed to convince Scottish Borders Council’s local review body to overturn the earlier decision by a planning officer to refuse her consent for the external redecoration.

Mrs Gibson required permission because the shop she leases at 1 Leithen Road lies within the town’s conservation area.

Councillors agreed that the purple colour was “incongruous” and out of keeping with neighbouring buildings.

She has since been advised to submit a new application for consent to paint the frontage in a more “appropriate” colour.

But, as reported in these columns last week, Mrs Gibson says she has no intention of complying with the ruling – and now her stance has sparked a campaign of support in the town.

At the weekend a petition appeared in shops and pubs, stating: “Please sign here in support of Mrs Martha Gibson and the colour purple for her shop”.

And, in one outlet alone – The Village Store in High Street – the petition has already attracted more thanover 200 signatures.

“I had nothing to do with this petition which has, I understand, been started by a lady who wishes to remain anonymous but feels, as I do, that I’m being victimised by an inflexible planning system,” said Mrs Gibson.

“I seem to have unwittingly become the talk of the town and I am really grateful and overwhelmed with the support I’ve had, both on social media and from people I meet in the street.

“It now takes me an hour to walk along High Street because so many folk are stopping to chat and saying they feel there is nothing wrong with a purple shop.

“All I have done in a bid to make my business more attractive is paint a Victorian building in a Victorian colour.”

Scottish Borders Council said it isthey are looking to resolve the issue through “discussions”.

A spokesperson said: “We would firstly seek to resolve any issue through discussions and negotiations, but if this was unsuccessful the council does have the option of serving a notice to ensure any unauthorised works were removed.”