A BRIGHTLY coloured ride which dominates the skyline at Flamingo Land is to be partly painted off-white, park bosses have announced.

The decision to repaint the top section of the ride could end a long-running row between planning councillors and the park.

Members of Ryedale District Council's northern area planning committee have yet to give their approval for the ride.

They still hold the right to order the ride to be pulled down if they refuse to accept the colour scheme.

Planning permission for the white-knuckle ride was given last year but councillors decided the park had not complied with planning conditions when it was painted with red and white hoops.

They hauled the application back before them after complaints that the colour scheme had made the ride too imposing.

The application has been brought before councillors three times because no compromise had been reached.

Some residents and councillors had complained that the colour scheme was too garish and was ruining the Ryedale skyline.

But park bosses maintain that complaints have been negligible and are keen to stick to their original plans.

Planning councillors were asked to come to a compromise with park bosses by asking them to change the colour scheme.

Updated: 11:38 Thursday, June 20, 2002