“TERRIBLE” shop shutters along the main route through Darwen are making the town look derelict, according to a town councillor.

Whitehall representative John East is keen for the Town Council to back his idea of painting the shutters to make the A666 more attractive to visitors.

He said: “The shutters from the boundary to the exit of Darwen are making the town look derelict, especially at night.

“We need to brighten the place up and painting the shutters is one way we could change things.

“I know there are a lot of different kinds of fabrics and types of shutters, but as a town council we need to be looking at coming up with ideas to improve things.

“Maybe this can be a multi-agency initiative where we get the whole community involved.”

Town mayor Paul Browne backed the call.

He said: “I think it’s a good idea. I was going through another town the other day where they had boarded up properties and the boards had been painted.

“I think something like this would make the main road look better.”

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith agreed that some action was required, but planning issues needed to be looked at first.

He said: “There is a shop in Bridge Street which has a full metal shutter which is down all the time at the moment, and it does look terrible.

“You need planning permission to have shutters, but not many people know this and never apply.

“A few years ago I know the council looked into how many properties had shutters without permission and there were about 60 or 70.

“I think the real answer here is asking Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to clamp down on this.”

The development committee of Darwen Town Council is now looking into the possibility of a carrying out the painting scheme.