Whitby Museum Concerned by Car Park Crack

Thursday, 28 September 2023 06:00

By Matthew Pells @thiscoast

The Chair of Whitby's Captain Cook Memorial Museum has expressed concern about a crack which has appeared next to the building.

Clair Stones says the introduction of the Church Street turning circle, which is being used to turn goods vehicles around when the swing bridge is closed, has led to numerous pot holes and now the larger crack.

Clair raised the issue with North Yorkshire Councillors at a meeting on Friday.

The turning circle has been introduced on the Tin Ghaut car park on Church Street and is used when the swing bridge is closed to traffic at weekends and in other busy periods.

The car park is built on land which was cleared of buildings in the 1960's. Pedestrian barriers have recently been placed at one side of the car park where a crack has appeared running along side the Captain Cook Museum.

Clair Stones called on councillors to introduce a weight limit on the turning circle adding:

"This is not just a matter of inconvenience; it’s a disservice to our town and heritage; an affront to our sense of pride and a challenge to our commitment to the preservation as a town.

We cannot stand idly by while our history crumbles before us. We must act now before it is too late.

I would suggest that putting a weight limit on the traffic using the circle would be a good start."

North Yorkshire Council officers said:

"The turning area is being regularly inspected and defects repaired as and when they are noted.

The barriers were erected following concerns raised by the museum about the condition of their building. The museum said they were planning to have their buildings surveyed, but we are still waiting to hear the outcome of that survey.

It is clear that the existing construction of the old car park area is not up to the appropriate standard. It looks as though the demolished building and filled in Cellars were only given a light covering of tarmac.

Once we start the harbourside public realm improvement scheme, this area will be reconstructed to an appropriate standard and it will be able to withstand the movement of larger delivery waggons. Something essential during the times when the swing bridge is closed"

Clair Stones also raised concerns about a lack of street cleaning in the area which she says is causing the turning circle area to look "atrocious"

Clair says local residents are having to tidy up the area around the new turning circle due to a lack of council action.

North Yorkshire Council officers said staffing issues within the cleaning service have been a problem over the summer months:

"This year has been particularly challenging in terms of recruitment, but we are putting in steps to respond to the pressures at this location.

We do apologise for the impact staff vacancies have had this summer and we are working hard to try and improve the situation for the long term."

Clair Stones called on the council to introduce a weight limit on vehicles using the turning circle, undertake a thorough investigation of what lies under the turning circle and introduce a regular weekly/fortnightly tidying and clearing of rubbish left in the area.