Whitby's Cliff Lift Saved for the Time Being Following Council Meeting

North Yorkshire Council's executive has backed a proposal to undertake a further study into the costs of repairing Whitby's 95-year-old cliff lift, though the free replacement bus service is set to be withdrawn.

Whitby's cliff lift has been saved for the time being following a meeting of North Yorkshire Council's executive earlier today.

A report prepared for the executive had initially recommended permanently decommissioning the 95-year-old lift, which has remained closed to the public since corrosion was discovered in 2022.

Council officers had recommended adopting what was known as Option 2. This was a £199,000 plan to seal the lift shaft while retaining the top building. Officers argued that the cost of full repairs, which were estimated to be up to £5.5 million, was disproportionate in what they described as a challenging financial environment.

However, at the meeting earlier today, councillors backed a proposal to undertake a further study into the costs of repairing the lift instead of proceeding with the permanent closure.

Councillor Malcolm Taylor outlined the new approach during the meeting.

He said:

The recommendations are proposed that we recommend that the council commissions an up-to-date survey of the cliff lift together with the full costings to bring it back into use. And also that we withdraw the bus service facility that we provide currently.

The original proposal to shut down the lift permanently had met with fierce resistance from residents and local leaders. Campaigners described the lift as a necessity for accessibility rather than a luxury. Demonstrating the strength of local feeling, a petition to save the historic landmark successfully gathered more than 5,600 signatures.

Whitby Councillor Neil Swannick strongly challenged the council's financial data during the debate. He labelled the multi-million-pound repair estimate a fantasy figure that was plucked out of a hat.

The human impact of the lift's closure has been felt deeply by those with limited mobility who rely on the service to reach the seafront.

While the lift has been saved from immediate closure, the council is expected to discontinue the free replacement bus service. The service cost over £52,000 to run in 2025, but passenger numbers saw a significant drop, falling to a daily average of just ten people in September.

However at todays meeting North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les suggested that alternatives to the bus provision should be explored to ensure people can still access the beach.

He said:

I think we can all agree that the bus service is extremely expensive. But it sounds to me as if there was one or two alternatives being suggested, this long wheel base golf buggy and taxis having a rank at the top, also some more disabled parking further down the and at the bottom of the hill.

So can we take that on board as well and have a look at that. But in the meantime the I think the principal recommendation is that we want to work with Whitby Town Council to try and find a solution that needs further investigation of these costs. So we will agree that we will do that.

The decision not to permanently close the lift has been welcomed by Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume who said:

“I’m very pleased North Yorkshire Council has decided to look into what it will cost to repair our historic Whitby Cliff Lift.

Permanently decommissioning it, without undertaking an up-to-date assessment of the work required and associated price, would have been a really premature move given the understandable concerns about the accuracy of the costings which were initially put before members.

The iconic Cliff Lift isn’t just part of the town’s heritage. It is a vital piece of infrastructure too which ensures the beautiful Blue Flag beach below is accessible for all.

This doesn’t mark the end of the battle to save the cliff lift from closure. However, it is an important and sensible step in the right direction.

As someone who used the Cliff Lift myself for countless summer holidays with my children, I know how important it is to local people. The strength of feeling, when it was initially proposed for closure, was testament to that and I commend everyone who has spoken out so eloquently against the closure.

I’m disappointed the replacement bus service is expected to be discontinued although encouraged by the suggestion that alternative provision is being looked at. The beach chalets and beach must be accessible to all.”