Scarborough and Whitby Issues Raised in House of Commons

Thursday, 12 September 2024 06:00

By Matthew Pells

The lack of a domestic violence refuge in Scarborough and public transport issues in Whitby have been raised in Parliament by the area's MP.

The lack of refuge for victims of domestic violence in Scarborough has been highlighted in Parliament.

The town's MP asked the Justice Minister if she would help to ensure that a refuge is opened in Scarborough.

In the last twelve months alone there have been 10,000 reported cases of domestic violence across the York and North Yorkshire area – one of the highest figures in the country.

Justice Minister - Alex Davies-Jones said the government is working with councils and police and crime commissioners to deliver refuges

Planning permission for a women's refuge was granted in 2022 but progress has stalled due to rising building costs. Alison Hume has pledged to continue the drive to find the funds to get the refuge built and open as soon as possible, adding:

"Scarborough has the highest domestic abuse rate in North Yorkshire but we don't have a single refuge in the whole constituency of Scarborough and Whitby, I was pleased to have the opportunity once again to raise this with my government colleagues in the House of Commons and it's now firmly on their radar.

I'm also looking forward to collaborating with Jo Coles the Deputy Mayor for York and North Yorkshire who shares my goal of seriously tackling and bringing down the rates of domestic violence and violence against women and girls."

The Scarborough and Whitby MP also raised the issue of local bus services in the House of Commons this week, welcoming government plans to give local leaders more control over bus franchising and highlighting issues being faced by bus users on the Yorkshire Coast.

Under Secretary of State for Transport - Simon Lightwood MP - said the government is determined to change "decades of failed regulation" and give more control over buses to local people.

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