Railings in Budleigh Salterton are to be given a face lift after the town council gave the go-ahead for a community spruce-up.

A health and safety row over railings in Budleigh Salterton has been resolved after the town council gave the go-ahead for a community spruce up.

A group of volunteers recently rallied round to paint the railings along Fore Street to Mackerel Square and Steamers Steps, until the town council stepped in and stopped the plans, believing the railings to be dangerous.

This week the members said the work could go ahead, after the county council said it was liable for any health and safety issues.

Councillor Chris Kitson, the driving force behind the project, said he was ‘pleased’ the idea had won the support of the council.

He said work would begin on March 21.

County councillor Christine Channon had allocated �500 to pay for paint, Councillor Kitson said.

He said: “I hope that some of my councillor colleagues and the members of Budleigh in Bloom will get involved to get the work done.”

Budleigh’s mayor, Councillor Tom Wright, recently said the council was fearful of carrying out a cosmetic exercise before a county council or independent engineer had carried out a safety study.

He said the paint proposal would be put on hold until the town was satisfied the metalwork was safe.

Devon County Council (DCC) told Budleigh Salterton Town Council the liability lay with DCC, as it had organised the repainting and inspection of the railings.

DCC said it did not see the benefit of the town seeking a third party option on the railings unless there was some doubt over ownership.