A POTTY health and safety row which could have seen 20 colourful planters being removed from an east Cleveland village may have been resolved.

A last ditch effort is being made to resolve an insurance problem before they are taken off the streets of Brotton and placed in storage.

The root of the problem is the lack of public liability insurance to cover any accidents involving the wooden pots.

But, Redcar and Cleveland Council is hoping a resolution has been reached with members of Brotton Community Action Group.

Council leader Coun George Dunning and Brotton ward councillor Richard Rudland have held talks with the Brotton Action Group over the 20 planters.

Coun Rudland said: “We have got the potential for a very happy ending.”

The problem centred around the lack of insurance, but now the group is organising the £170 payment.

Coun Rudland added: “That means we will not be organising for the planters’ removal, but there is still some work to be done.

“One or two of the planters are in unsafe positions, so they need to be moved and if we can agree on the resiting, I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”

Coun Dunning added: “The removal of the planters was always going to be a last resort and I’m glad to say that won’t be the case.

“The group does a splendid job, but we could not allow the planters to remain without insurance cover.

It’s a necessary legal requirement in the event of anyone hurting themselves as a consequence of the planters.”

The deadlock was broken at a meeting with the community action group, which was set up to smarten and brighten up the village.

Chairman Derek Ditchburn said: “We are delighted that most of them are going to stay in place but we are having to pay for the insurance. We are only a small group and don’t have much money but we will raise it somehow.

“It has been very frustrating because we don’t get any help from the council and we are having to do everything ourselves. This is one issue we have with the council but we seem to have got it resolved.”