The fight for Get Carter house

10:37am Thursday 11th January 2007

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A HOUSE that made an appearance in the cult gangster movie Get Carter should be saved from demolition because it has become a tourist attraction, it was claimed last night.

Developers want to demolish Beechcroft, in Broomside Lane, Belmont, on the edge of Durham City.

The 1950s detached property was used as gangster Cliff Brumby's house in the 1971 film set in the North-East and starring Michael Caine.

But it could soon be replaced by a dozen new homes if planning permission is granted.

Durham county councillor Ken Holroyd, who represents the Belmont ward, is among those who would like to see Beechcroft remain.

He said: "It is one of the sites visited on a Get Carter bus tour of the region so we will, in effect, be losing a visitor attraction in the city."

Coun Holroyd has written to Michael Caine asking for his views, but so far has received no response.

"It is a pity if it goes, but at least there is a preservation order on the beech trees in the garden, so something will remain," he said.

The location for the house in the film is given as the fictional Durham Road, in Pentiles.

In real life, the two-storey detached house, complete with an indoor swimming pool, was the luxurious home of the late Durham businessman, Charlie Newton, and his family.

The planning application, submitted to Durham City Council and due to go out to public consultation this week, includes the demolition of Beechcroft and the construction of 12 homes, parking provision and associated access.

A Durham City Council spokesman said the plan would be advertised in a statutory notice in the press this week and neighbouring residents would also receive written notification of the proposals.

If planning consent is given and Beechcroft is demolished, it will mark the end of the line for yet another Get Carter location in the region.

In one of the most famous scenes in the film Brumby, who was played by actor Bryan Mosley - better known as Alf Roberts in Coronation Street - was thrown to his death from a Gateshead multi-storey car park.

Fans of the thriller were up in arms when outline planning permission was granted for the demolition of the car park in Gateshead town centre and argued that, although ugly and outdated, it should become the basis of a "cultural" trail around the town.

Even though the structure has its own appreciation society and supporters include film directors Quentin Tarantino and South Shields-born Ridley Scott, it remains scheduled to be demolished.

Already lost to the film's location history is the aerial flight system which carried coal waste from Murton Colliery to the coast and featured dramatically in the film.