MP Alison Hume says the Council are "being cloth-eared" over concerns relating to the future of Whitby's Cliff Lift.
The cliff lift on the West Cliff closed in 2022 after the discovery of corrosion in its structure and a steady increase in water ingress.
North Yorkshire Council say that "while it would be possible to restore the lift to working order, this would come at a significant cost and the effects of water and ventilation issues would continue to pose challenges".
A decision on the lift's future is expected to be made at a meeting of the council's executive committee in October. Concerns about the lift's future have been heightened after the council's forward plan for that meeting contained the line:
"There is no consultation proposed in relation to the decision to infill the cliff lift."
In a post on social media, Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said:
"Residents in Whitby deserve to have their say on what happens to the town's historic cliff lift.
I want to see a proper public consultation held on its future, in addition to the one currently underway on the replacement bus service.
Again, North Yorkshire Council are being cloth-eared’ when it comes to the town. Another reason we need a senior officer assigned to Whitby to break the Northallerton mindset.
I used the Cliff Lift with my family hundreds of times when we rented a chalet for our summer holidays. The bus is NOT a replacement - just not as easy to access if you have buggies, wheelchairs and adapted chairs. Also was it ever properly advertised?
Closed since 2022, I understand the cost of repairing the lift concerns North Yorkshire Council. That's why I've approached Anglo-American to help organise an assessment and see if the work can be carried-out for a lower price. I’m not expert but the cost of filling it in must be halfway towards a repair?
I've also met with Cllr Phil Trumper, who represents Whitby West, to discuss the situation, as well as Cllr Neil Swannick separately.
Like me, the Whitby NY councillors want members of the public to be able to give their views."
Councillor Phil Trumper, who represents the Whitby West division on North Yorkshire Council, said he had spoken with the mining company Anglo American, which had
“confirmed that it is willing to send its specialists, with NYC’s permission to carry out a further investigation to see if the work to repair the lift could be done at a more efficient price”.
Councillor Trumper launched a petition earlier this year to try and save the cliff lift, the petition has had just under 5,000 signatures.
Alison Hume has asked residents to sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/save-the-historic-whitby-cliff-lift
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