Plans for Balamory-style painted houses scrapped

Plans to give a row of seaside properties a colourful makeover in a bid to boost tourism have been scrapped.

The Balamory-style paint job was earmarked for 14 properties on Newcomen Terrace, in Redcar, but not all home owners agreed.

Redcar and Cleveland Council had planned to spend £250,000 of Government Town Deal funding on the project, which was inspired by the CBeebies show of the same name.

However, a spokeswoman said the planned had now been axed and the money would be spent on regenerating the town's high street.

Plans for Redcar High Street include building a cultural and leisure attraction with tenpin bowling, mini golf, laser tag and a library, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

However, plans for footpath resurfacing and new lighting on Station Road have been dropped due to the cost of materials and labour.

Catherine Clennett, Redcar Town Deal board chair, said: “Unfortunately, we have not been immune to the steeply rising costs associated with major projects and we have had to take some decisions we would not have wished to.

“However, the board is hopeful that projects which cannot now go ahead can be revisited in the future through alternative funding.”

The board, made up of local business people and elected representatives, has the task of coming up with projects to be funded by the £25m Town Deal money secured in 2021.

Mrs Clennett said work in the town centre would provide a “focal point” for visitors and hopefully planned “transformative projects” would become a reality.

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