A council leader says his wish to have Balamory-effect painted houses on Redcar seafront is to be granted.
Councillor Alec Brown said money from the £25m Redcar Town Deal scheme was being used to give properties in Redcar’s Newcomen Terrace a fresh lick of paint. This is alongside other planned external improvements such as new guttering.
Cllr Brown, who became leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council last month, said while the council did not own the buildings, it had surveyed their private owners and 19 out of 22 properties were in favour of the move in principle. He also said the remainder are expected to give their blessing.
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So-called Balamory houses are colourful painted properties, usually in a seaside location, that were showcased in the BBC television children’s programme of the same name. Balamory was shot on the waterfront of Tobermory, in the Isle of Mull, Scotland, with the stunningly attractive harbourside village attracting thousands of tourists each year to view its brightly painted backdrop.
Cllr Brown posted on Twitter to state that work costing about £300,000 could start at the end of the summer and it would brighten the area up. He said: “For many years I have wished we could have a Balamory effect on our seafront.”
(Image: Malc McDonald/Geograph)
Some Twitter users praised the move with comments such as “this will look brilliant” and “love it”. But there was also questioning as to why the painting of private homes was being “subsidised”.
Redcar MP Jacob Young said the aim was to deliver a “fantastic entrance to our town” for people arriving via the Coatham end of Redcar. He thanked Cllr Brown for expressing support, adding: “The £25m Redcar Town Deal we achieved from the Government will dramatically change our town centre and ensure we can make Redcar a better place to live, work and visit.”
Other aspects of the Town Deal being progressed by the council include plans for a new family activity centre in Redcar High Street, a shipping container village on the seafront which will include indoor and outdoor spaces for sports activities and other facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, a catering offer and parking, and improvements to the southern section of the Esplanade, which will see pavements resurfaced and widened and new lighting and seating added.
A Town Deal board, consisting of local politicians, business leaders and community representatives, was previously established to develop business cases outlining how the Government cash would be spent.
Members of the public are being invited to a drop in event on Thursday (June 22) at the ‘Rediscover Redcar’ office in West Terrace between 10am and 7pm which will reveal first look CGI images of some Town Deal projects and provide a chance to speak directly to architects, designers and contractors involved. They can also visit the Town Deal website for more information.
