Local Councillors say rumours about Eskdale School being used to house asylum seekers are totally false.
Whitby's former Eskdale School site is not going to become accommodation for asylum seekers.
Local councillor - Neil Swannick - says rumours about the potential use of the site to house large numbers of asylum seekers are false.
"There was a rumour that beds were being seen to be moved into the unused school building and that it was anticipated that 600 asylum seekers would immediately be moved in and 400 more within the year.
I can assure everybody that is not true.
In fact, the council has gone to great length to deny that rumour
The deputy chief executive wrote to me and wrote to Councillor Trumper and said that we would just like to make absolutely clear that the rumour is totally false."
Councillor Trumper says it wouldn't be possible to use the former school site for such purposes as the site is protected by planning rules and an educational use covenant.
"I received quite a few phone calls from from people who were concerned about Eskdale school.
And that that's why we we needed that information to be corrected.
It is just a rumour. It can't happen.
For several years there is a covenant on Eskdale school and to change the use of Eskdale school you have to go to the Department of Education, and they have to agree to it. And obviously you'd have to get planning permission. There have to be a change of use, et cetera for that to happen.
And that hasn't happened and will not happen because there's no migrants of that type of number coming to Whitby.
Eskdale school is not gonna be turned into a migrant accommodation. It's not going to happen."
Eskdale School iclosed in September 2024 as part of a merger with Caedmon College, a move driven by low pupil numbers, financial pressures, and the need to provide a stronger curriculum for local students.
After the closure, the site was handed back to North Yorkshire Council, with its long-term future yet to be decided. For now, the 3G floodlit pitch on the grounds continues to serve the community, hosting local clubs and providing wider public access.
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