Multi-Million Pound Adventure Sports Plan for Scarborough Borough

Thursday, 20 October 2022 06:00

By Matthew Pells with additional reporting from Anttoni James Numminen, Local Democracy Reporter

A multi-million-pound effort is to be made to establish the Yorkshire coast as a “destination of choice” for adventure and adrenaline activities.

Scarborough Borough Council's cabinet have voted to adopt a feasibility study into the idea as council policy.

The plan proposes creating a £2m climbing, BMX and skating centre, and aspires to attract £20m of investment to create an inland surfing centre.

Councillor Jim Grieve is the cabinets' lead on the project.

A feasibility study commissioned by the authority sets out a long-term strategy for “harnessing the potential of the region to provide adrenalin activity sports” and ways in which locals, visitors, and international tourists can be drawn to Scarborough.

The study proposes an “inward capital investment” of £20m to create an “inland surfing centre” as well as investing £2m on a climbing, BMX, and skating centre, with a combined economic gain of up to £1.2m annually.

The borough council's cabinet voted to adopt the plan this week.

The council's head of community services, Jo Ireland, says the ambitious scheme will need external funding but some talks are already underway.

The report presented to members of the cabinet states that Scarborough has been a travel destination since the 17th Century when visitors “flocked to the resort not only to enjoy the waters but also to take part in horse riding on the beach, boating, and sea bathing”.

The report suggests that the adventure sports strategy could extend the season of the borough, attract new visitors to the area, and support increasing visitor economy growth alongside the council’s North Bay Masterplan.

The council has said that its North Bay Masterplan, which seeks to create more leisure activities and luxury hotels in Scarborough, could bring “over £100m of investment” to the area.

Last year Scarborough Council appointed Mullhall Leisure to conduct the adventure sports feasibility study, which identified “key areas for development” and also conducted an “extensive consultation with various sports organisations and key stakeholders”.

According to the council report, there were 94 responses to the survey targeted at organisations and 262 completed surveys from individuals, with 86 per cent of respondents reportedly stating that “current experiences need improvement”.

Cllr Grieve told the Local Democracy reporting Service:

“There are three levels of consultation that have gone with this” which included governing bodies, locals, and those seeking to take part in adventure sports.

He added:

“However much we try and reach out, there is always more you could always do. However, there comes a point when you have the same kind of picture coming back from the same kind of people.”

The council has said it is already working on some of the proposals and will be further developing the outlined strategies this winter.

The full strategy document is at https://democracy.scarborough.gov.uk/documents/s111650/22217%20Appendix%20A%20AASFS%20compressed.pdf