£60m revamp plans put to public

The Spanish City used to be a popular tourist attraction

Residents of a Tyneside coastal resort have given the thumbs-up to a £60m action plan to breathe new life into the town, according to the council.

Hundreds of people visited a two-day event focusing on proposals to regenerate Whitley Bay's run-down Spanish City and seafront area.

Plans include 300 new homes, a swimming pool, a hotel and an arts complex.

North Tyneside Council said the display attracted a lot of interest and the reaction was mainly positive.

Councillor Jim Allan, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "I'd say that the reaction was about 95% positive.

'Strong message'

"People did raise issues such as parking and transport, and I think the issue of public transport is an important one and certainly one that we can explore.

"My feeling was that there was a big thumbs-up and the message we were getting most strongly was that people think the time for talking is over and they want to see some action."

A final report goes before the council's cabinet in April and, if approval is given, major planning applications could start to be submitted by summer.

Spanish City was opened in 1910 and designed by Robert Burns Dick, who was also the architect for Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery.