More seaside sauna cabin plans submitted

Proposals to install two sauna cabins along a popular stretch of seafront have been submitted for planning permission.

The application is for cabins on the Lower Central Promenade in Whitley Bay, south of the Spanish City dome.

Last year, permission was granted by North Tyneside Council for a separate plan by another operator, Steam and Salt, to build saunas at Longsands beach in Tynemouth.

One local councillor said the Whitley Bay plans would "bring back a new life" to the area.

Whitley Bay North Labour councillor John O'Shea said the Central Lower Promenade currently "looks rather bland and lifeless".

"Introduction of sauna cabins will bring back a new life to the area and hopefully will bring exciting new activities on to the promenade," he said.

A planning statement said the saunas would operate "in a manner that" prevents land or sea pollution, protects coastal ecology and "respects public amenity and environmental quality".

Once installed, they would be located just south of the Spanish City Dome, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The application is pending a decision from the Labour-led council.

Similar plans from the firm, which featured sauna cabins manufactured in Sweden, were approved last year and received a groundswell of support, with 80 comments backing the move.

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