A new survey has revealed how Scarborough residents feel about having their voices heard, while community pressure in Whitby has successfully halted the decommissioning of the town's cliff lift.
A new survey has revealed the thoughts of people in Scarborough regarding how they can get their voices heard and see actions carried out in their local area.
The research highlights the challenges faced by residents, noting concerns over visible decline, housing pressures, fragmented services, and a lack of opportunities for young people.
According to the findings, communities in the coastal town are neither disengaged nor apathetic, and residents possess clear ideas for improving their local neighbourhoods.
However, the survey indicates a growing disconnect from formal decision-making processes, suggesting that public trust has shifted away from distant institutions and formal consultations.
Instead, people are placing their faith in local relationships, community groups, and organisations rooted directly within their communities.
Mel Bonney discussed the findings of the survey and explained how the town must adapt to ensure residents' voices are genuinely heard.
She says they value Scarborough's people, natural environments, and community spirit:
"However, they also spoke about visible decline, housing pressures, fragmented services, lack of opportunities for young people, and a growing sense of distance from decision-making. Communities are not disengaged or apathetic. People have ideas for improving their neighbourhoods. We found that trust has not disappeared but it has shifted. People are more likely to trust local relationships, community groups, and organisations rooted in place than distant institutions and formal consultation processes. The challenge for Scarborough is not how to get people engaged, but how to turn existing care, local knowledge, and community action into genuine influence and shared decision-making."
The desire for shared decision-making and community action is already showing results elsewhere on the North Yorkshire coast.
In Whitby, local voices and committee pressure have successfully influenced authorities over the future of the town's cliff lift.
Unanimous support for reinstating the transport link proved instrumental in persuading the executive to abandon plans to decommission the lift.
Instead, an up-to-date survey featuring full costings for potential reinstatement has been commissioned, with plans to work alongside Whitby Town Council and community representatives to develop accurate, evidence-based options.
Councillor Liz Colling outlined the recent developments regarding the cliff lift and urged residents to continue making their voices heard over the coming year:
"It was the committee's unanimous and vociferous support for reinstating the cliff lift which was instrumental in persuading the executive not to decommission that lift and instead to commission an up to date survey including full costings for potential reinstatement and to work with Whitby Town Council and community representatives to develop options based on accurate evidence and it was a concern of this committee that the data we saw was not up-to-date. In respect of the next 12 months, we would therefore encourage residents and community organisations to engage with the area committee by submitting public questions and petitions."
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