Continuing Safety Concerns Raised Over Disability Access To Whitby Beach

Local leaders have warned of serious health and safety issues regarding disabled access to Whitby's beach while the town's historic cliff lift remains out of action.

Ongoing concerns have been raised regarding disability access to Whitby's beach as the town's historic cliff lift remains out of action.

The ninety-five-year-old attraction has been closed to the public since corrosion was discovered in 2022, forcing visitors with limited mobility to find alternative routes to the seafront.

Recent incidents have highlighted the dangers of the current situation, including a rescue operation recently involving a person using a mobility scooter on the steep coastal paths.

Whitby Councillor Phil Trumper highlighted the ongoing safety challenges and the impact the closure has had on vulnerable residents and visitors.

He said:

"It hasn't operated properly since 2018 and we've seen some really serious health and safety issues from that closure about the accessibility for disabled people. And again only last week someone had to be rescued by the coastguard because they tried to access on a mobility scooter which was obviously a mistake and had to be rescued."

North Yorkshire Council's executive recently backed a proposal to undertake a further study into the costs of repairing the cliff lift, stepping back from an initial recommendation to permanently decommission the site.

Council officers had previously suggested a £199,000 plan to seal the lift shaft, arguing that full repairs, estimated at up to £5.5 million, were disproportionate in the current financial climate.

However, following fierce resistance from residents and a petition that gathered more than 5,600 signatures, the council has committed to exploring repair options to save the landmark.

Despite this reprieve, accessibility remains a pressing issue for the town. The free replacement bus service, which cost over £52,000 to run in 2025, is expected to be withdrawn after passenger numbers dropped to a daily average of just ten people in September.

Whitby Mayor, Town Councillor Sandra Turner, stressed that alternative routes to the Blue Flag beach are not suitable for everyone and warned of the severe consequences.

She says the lift played an important part in providing access to the beach:

"It provides disability access. Now we do have a blue flag beach and it has been quoted to us before that disability access is available via the zigzag paths that go down the cliff front. And I've got to say that just last week somebody did actually try to access that area on a mobility scooter and unfortunately they had an accident and they had to have the coastguard and the ambulance service to come and recover them and obviously take them onto the hospital.

So there is a big issue there."

The human impact of the lift's closure has been felt deeply by those with hidden impairments or limited mobility who rely on the service to safely reach the sand.

While the bus service faces the axe, North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les has suggested that alternative provisions should be explored to ensure people can still access the beach.

Potential alternatives discussed include a long-wheelbase golf buggy, a taxi rank at the top of the cliff, and additional disabled parking closer to the shoreline.

Local MP Alison Hume has also weighed in on the accessibility debate, emphasising that the iconic cliff lift is a vital piece of infrastructure that ensures the beach is accessible for all.

She expressed disappointment that the replacement bus service is expected to be discontinued, but noted she was encouraged by the suggestion that alternative provisions are being looked at, stating that the beach chalets and the beach itself must be accessible to everyone.

Whitby Councillor David Chance previously called for an up-to-date survey and a robust business case to reopen the lift as a going concern, specifically for the benefit of residents, visitors, and those who are disabled.

For now, the future of the lift hinges on the upcoming feasibility study, leaving those with mobility issues waiting for a permanent, safe solution to access one of the Yorkshire Coast's most popular destinations.