A set of ‘unsightly and dangerous’ Grade II listed steps in Scarborough could be repaired and renovated by the council.
Scarborough’s historic Museum Steps have become a public hazard and need to be repaired, the council has said.
“Several stair treads have failed due to deterioration and settlement of the central supporting wall, which has caused loss of bearing and breakage of the treads. The steps, together with sections of the surrounding retaining wall, now present a safety hazard to the public,” according to a plan submitted by Align Property Services.
Photographs released by the council reveal the state of the closed steps, which lead from the upper pedestrian area at the entrance to the Spa Bridge down to Museum Terrace, past several businesses towards the Rotunda Museum on Valley Road.
An entry by Historic England states that “the current condition of the steps is that they are not only unusable and unsightly but also a danger to the public”.
North Yorkshire Council’s agent has said that the proposed works “will remove these hazards, restore full structural support to the steps, and improve the condition of associated retaining walls and features”.
The works would preserve the historic appearance of the steps and surrounding structures, and a new handrail would also be installed on the main staircase.
The steps up to Cliff Bridge Terrace are Grade II Listed and were constructed around 1830.
According to submitted plans, existing materials will be set aside and reused where possible and like-for-like materials will be used where re-use is “impossible or impactable”.
A survey of the steps by Align Property Services in April found that their overall condition is “very poor, with large gaps between steps – there is visible vertical settlement at the centre point of the steps with some steps showing signs of horizontal displacement and vegetation emerging from gaps in between steps”.
The main retaining wall’s condition is fair, however, there is a constant issue with water seepage through the wall caused by defects with the drainage behind the main retaining wall, the agent added.
The proposed repairs are currently pending with the planning authority, which has not set a date for deciding on the application.
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