AMBITIOUS plans to invest £500,000 in developing 45 beach huts along Saltburn seafront have been approved despite some reservations about the impact on visitors to the town.

Marshalls Beach and Leisure Huts are proposing to hire out the specially designed huts on a daily, weekly or monthly basis as the waiting list for the existing huts on the seafront has almost 250 names on it.

The colourful units, which will be situated on the eastern end of the lower promenade, will be 3m wide by 2.6m deep and three simple structures have been in place as part of the public consultation into the scheme.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's regulatory committee heard how the huts would help to bring people to the town and increase tourism in the borough.

Concerns were raised about whether the huts would be able to withstand a tidal surge and the bitter winter of the North East coast.

A representative from the company reassured councillors that the temporary examples had withstood external damage during the most recent tidal surge and the damage to the doors would be resolved by the use of heavier grade steel.

Councillor Michael Dick raised concerns about the impact the beach huts would have on visitors to the town being able to use the lower promenade.

He said: “I think it would impede the enjoyment of a lot of people who use the promenade – I’m against the scheme.”

The planning officers report included a mixed range of opinions from members of the public, ranging from them being a splendid idea to causing obstruction and from attracting more people to the town to them using up an unacceptable amount of space.

Cllr Steve Turner spoke in favour in the application. He said: “I think it is something that the area needs and something that will benefit the entire town. I don’t see why these beach huts won’t add to what is a great town in our borough.”

And Cllr Phillip Thomson, who represents the town on the council, said any concerns about increased traffic causing additional parking problems in the town were already being addressed in an attempt to resolve the longstanding problem across the town during the busy summer months.

The beach hut scheme was approved by ten votes to one.