A £3 MILLION scheme to paint Bolton's logo colours onto shop fronts will turn Newport street into 'Balamory and 'Toy Town'', shoppers claim.

It was reported on Monday how Town Hall bosses are looking to splash the colours of the borough’s logo — red, orange, lilac, green, pink, blue, brown, grey and yellow — above shop units on the street.

As part of the plans, £1 million will be spent repaving the street and removing trees and benches to create a ‘seamless’ link from the new Bolton Interchange to the centre of Bolton.

Little Lever resident Jean Grant said the plans resembled the brightly coloured houses in kids’ TV programme Balamory — and said money should be spent more sensibly.

The 73-year-old said: “It looks like Balamory. They could spend their money on better things. It’s like when they moved the bus station away from the market. The plans won’t make a difference to who comes along here but it will be nice for visitors.”

Resident Francis Farrell, added: “These things are being done for the benefit of Bolton, but they seem to be spending money on unnecessary things. The plans look like Toy Town. The problem is that half of the shops are shut.

“People are disgusted with Bolton from what it used to be.”

But businesses have rallied around the plans as a way of revitalising the town centre.

Cigtronica employee Danny Banks said the level of footfall was a big issue for Newport Street traders.

The 22-year-old said: “I think the new colours are a good idea.

“We didn’t pick this location, the owner didn’t realise the small amount of public that come along here.

“It’s only two shops that get trade – CEX and Game – then people grab a pasty from Greggs and go towards Crompton Place. They don’t see Newport Street as the centre part of town.”

Mustafa Ay opened his new business, Moda Hair Salon, two months ago. He said the investment plan would help boost trade once the new Bolton Interchange was built.

“My shop will be orange – I love orange, it’s a very positive colour and I like the Dutch people, it reminds me of them”, he said.

“I think this is a good idea. When you look at the pavement you can’t walk in the middle because of the cobbles, so nobody is walking in the centre of the road. Newport Street definitely needs some work.”

* In 2005, Bolton Council commissioned a report to see how they could create a ‘brand’ for the borough, following requests from the town’s business community.

After quizzing local residents, potential investors and visitors to the town, the consultants came up with the idea of the ‘Bolton Family’ — the fundamental principle that everything Bolton does should match up to, or reinforce.

To convey that sentiment, the colour scheme for town was developed to be used on promotional material for Bolton, on street signage and stationery for the council.

When asked what colours they associated with Bolton, young people picked bright colours to reflect the town’s vibrancy, while the older generations chose heritage colour, reflecting the town’s rich history, and soft colours as a visual representation of Bolton’s friendliness.

All are included in the brand, reflecting Bolton’s ‘DNA’.