Saucy postcards in Cleethorpes are 'putt' back on display

SAUCY seaside postcards which were taken down from Cleethorpes seafront earlier this year have made a comeback in the resort.

As reported, the giant postcards were removed from Alexandra Road following complaints from some traders that they were sexist and offensive.

The four paintings by local artist Carl Landymore depict various seaside scenes, including a man looking out towards two bikini-clad women sunbathing on the beach, while his wife says: "Looking at the lovely birds."

They were put up by the Cleethorpes In Bloom committee, along with another painting, produced by the council to promote recycling, and which shows a couple with their recycling boxes remarking that: "The council says we should do it twice a fortnight."

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Cleethorpes In Bloom chairman Bob Callison was furious when the council removed the postcards, stating that permission for them to be erected on council-owned property had not been sought.

But now the ongoing saga appears to have reached a happy conclusion, after the paintings were bought by local businessman Terry Proctor, who yesterday put them on display at his Oddballs Crazy Golf Course, just yards from where they were initially positioned.

Mr Proctor said the deal was a "win-win" for everyone.

He said: "Cleethorpes In Bloom get the money they spent on the postcards back, I get a new attraction for my customers to enjoy and the traders who complained about them can't see them from their premises."

Mr Proctor said he was amazed to read in the Grimsby Telegraph that the paintings had been removed.

He said: "Cleethorpes In Bloom is probably the only force for good we've got in Cleethorpes at the moment in these times of austerity. I know the postcards cost a lot of money so I got in touch with Bob and offered to pay what they had paid for them.

"It is a fantastic attraction for my crazy golf course and will give customers something to have a laugh at when they are queuing up."

Dismissing the suggestion that the postcards were sexist or offensive, Mr Proctor added: "I will record any complaints that customers make about the postcards, but I don't anticipate there will be any.

"I've had literally hundreds of people walking past the crazy golf course, and all of those have stopped to have a look have had a smile on their face.

"I accept that some people might be offended but I think the vast majority of people take them for what they are: British humour."

Cleethorpes In Bloom chairman Mr Callison said: "I'm extremely happy now. We are in a win-win situation. If Terry had not got in touch with us the postcards would have been left in a dark cupboard forever. And because Terry has bought the paintings from us we can now spend that money on other ventures to improve the resort."

Mr Callison, who had accused the council of "bullyboy tactics" over its handling of the affair, added: "I was extremely disappointed with the council's actions, but we have put that behind us now. The postcards were never smutty or sexist. They are good clean fun. I'm delighted they are back on show where everyone can enjoy them."

Stephen Wright, 43, of Waltham, who was playing crazy golf with his wife Karen and daughter Ellie, said: "I just think they are amusing. It's just typical British seaside humour. It's what they did in the 1950s and 1960s. If it wasn't offensive then, why should it be offensive now? Some people are a bit sensitive. I think we've gone too far with it."