THE owners of Greenock’s ‘Yellow House’ have been told they have less than two weeks to challenge a council order to repaint it – or face a possible £20,000 fine.

Inverclyde Council have now served an enforcement notice on the Varese family, telling them they plan to force them to have the house returned to its original colour.

The family have until 3 August to appeal to the Scottish Ministers against the enforcement notice.

If no appeal is lodged, they have a further eight weeks from that date to carry out the repainting work.

If they then fail to do this, the council could send in tradesmen to carry out the work – then bill the Vareses’ for the job.

Inverclyde Council’s Planning Enforcement Charter states that failure to comply with such an enforcement notice within the time-limit is an offence that can lead to a fine of up to £20,000 at the town’s sheriff court. The charter further states that failure to comply can also result in the council taking ‘direct action’ by carrying out the required work itself and then recovering the costs incurred. Edoardo Varese, inset, told the Tele: “We’ve received an enforcement notice from the council which states that we have until 3 August to appeal to the Scottish Ministers and if we don’t then we have eight weeks after that to repaint the house. I’ve passed it on to my lawyers.” The council decided in February that the house, which fronts The Esplanade and Eldon Street, would have to be repainted as the bright yellow shade was “intrusive” in the Greenock West End Conservation Area.

The issue caused an online public outcry, with thousands of people signing an online a petition urging councillors to leave the house as it is. A protest march was also staged on the Esplanade in support of the homeowners.

The owners have had the option to appeal to the Court of Session but, as no proceedings have been started, the council are now moving to force the repainting of the property.

A spokesman for Inverclyde Council said: “Enforcements notices have been served on the property requesting the yellow painting of the house be restored to its original colour.”