PLANNERS will be able to control painting of stonework on buildings in a large swathe of central Harrogate in a bid to maintain the town's special character.

Councillors have voted unanimously to introduce the controls amid fears that some gaudy colours covering stonework from the 19th and early 20th Century are eroding the town's image.

Harrogate Borough Council's central planning committee acted after pressure from the town's Civic Society, whose chairman Lilian Mina told councillors the painting of stone facades was an issue which needed tackling urgently.

Mrs Mina said if action was deferred, it might be too late to save the appearance of the townscape and its conservation areas.

She said painting had already started to proliferate in Cheltenham Parade.

Most of the area covered is in and around the town centre, but extends to cover the White House Estate, a mile from the centre, off Leeds Road.

Legal powers to bring the painting under planning control has been extensively investigated by the council.

Plans for a paint control zone have now been sent to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for approval.

The Civic Society has welcomed the action after they had complained that premises were being painted in colours ranging from white and orange to teracotta, pink and yellow, sometimes for advertising purposes.