Concerns Over Scarborough, Whitby and Filey Harbour Strategy

A tense meeting saw clashes over a 10-year harbour strategy for part of the North Yorkshire coast.

​North Yorkshire Council officers, residents, and councillors disagreed over a proposed harbour strategy for Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey at a meeting of the coastal area committee on Monday (March 2).

​​Scarborough Harbour, Whitby Harbour, and Filey Coble Landing are the focus of North Yorkshire Council’s harbours strategy that aims to set out how they will develop from now until 2036.

​At the meeting, residents suggested that the almost 30-page policy was “nothing but a desktop study” while officers defended the scheme and highlighted that it was a draft, and members of the public could contribute as part of the ongoing consultation.

​Councillors also raised concerns about plans for the development of Scarborough’s West Pier and pressed the authority to commit to a boat lift on the ageing pier.

​Chris Bourne, the head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, said the boat lift was dependent on the delivery of the West Pier redevelopment scheme, as a boat lift “cannot travel between the gap in the current buildings”.

​He added that some funding had been secured for the boat lift, including from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, and costings have been completed for structural improvements.

​It was also suggested that North Yorkshire Council could apply for money from the Government’s new Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF), which will invest £360 million into fishing and seafood businesses and coastal communities across the UK.

​Speaking at the meeting, local businessman James Corrigan said:

“I would like to understand the proposed measures for accommodating the crew transfer vessels (CTV) and dozens of guard vessels in connection with the servicing and maintenance of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, to which our port is the closest located.”

​Mr Bourne, head of harbours and coastal infrastructure, replied that “there are a number of proposals in relation to CTV and guard vessels in the draft strategy that are included in the strategic action plans”.

​He said:

“These include improving bridge depth, extending the West Pier, and exploring the provision of a bridge.

​“The draft harbour strategy has been available as a public document since January 8, and the website enables any member of the public to download the strategy and provide feedback and comments on the strategy through the website.”

​Cllr Neil Swannick, who represents Whitby Streonshalh, questioned the level of consultation carried out on the strategy to date, he told the meeting:

“It says in the report that more members have been part of developing the strategy, but I’d like to put on the public record that I have played no part in this, apart from when [officers] brought earlier drafts for this committee,”

​Officers said that “a mistake has been made in the past” in relation to the absence of councillors from certain harbour users’ groups and that “this will be corrected”.

​​The draft strategy and the public consultation, which is open until March 22, can be accessed on the council’s website here: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/consultations-and-engagement/current-consultations/draft-harbours-strategy-consultation

​The purpose of the strategy is to provide a

“working framework to ensure harbour users, local communities and key stakeholders know what they can expect regarding development of the harbours over the next 10 years, and to generate a partnership approach to the development of the harbour”.

​​The harbours in Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey have faced a period of decline due to structural issues, a lack of investment and strategy, environmental challenges, and the decline of the fishing industry, the council said.

​​The strategy’s aim is to “fulfil the potential of Scarborough and Whitby Harbours and Filey Coble Landing, by providing safe, and sustainable facilities, which celebrate their rich maritime heritage and embrace innovation and economic growth”.