Row over politically incorrect 6ft-tall saucy seaside postcards displayed at resort

Comic seaside postcard-style art erected by Cleethorpes In Bloom has sparked a stern response from North East Lincolnshire Council – which has failed to see the funny side. Council leader Chris Shaw said that the group had not been given permission from the council to display the paintings by local artist Carl Landymore, which have been erected on Alexandra Road. He said that complaints had been received from local shop owners about the nature of the paintings, which Councillor Shaw said were "not funny". One shows a man walking in dog waste, while a man berates his dog saying "No, I said sit". Another shows a man peering at two bikini clad ladies on the beach while his wife makes a supposed sexist comment.

Councillor Shaw said: "The council support all the In Bloom campaigns, but the pictures of the man stepping in dog mess is not funny. Cleethorpes In Bloom did not have the permission of the council to put up the postcards. Complaints have been made so the boards must be removed. The gardens are owned by the council, they are not the property of Cleethorpes In Bloom and they need to realise this." He also hit back at claims from Cleethorpes In Bloom chairman Bob Callison that the paintings were in the same vain as a recent NELC campaign to encourage recycling.



Councillor Shaw said: "The recycling picture is completely separate from those along Alexandra Road. It has a clear message, where as those on the seafront are not funny and don't have a clear message." Mr Callison, said he was "shocked at the response." He said: "We have had only one or two negative comments saying we are ruining the view. A few doors down from the postcards is a souvenir shop that displays far more raunchy postcards at the front of the shop. The people complaining have never supported us. They complained last year when we had some beautiful pictures of Cleethorpes in the same place. Vice-chairman of the group, Jeff Blanchard, said: "The are a seaside tradition and are just a bit of fun.

"They are not meant to cause offence, the last thing we want to do is cause upset. We receive no council funding. We pay for everything through sponsorship money from local residents and traders. They are complaining saying that it ruins the view from their businesses, of a perfectly good hedge." Mr Landymore, added: "The postcard says clean up dog mess. It's not meant to cause offense – they are to make people smile. I can't see a problem with them. You are always going to get do-gooders that will complain that's life. Lot's of people said they are funny. I don't see how they can affect business, they are not an eyesore. If we have to take them down so be it."

There's a photo gallery here.