Decision details

To feedback the results of a public consultation on outline proposals for improvements to Whitby harbourside public realm, including proposals to signalise the junction of Spital Bridge and A171 and decide on the next steps for the scheme.

The 2023 consultation outcome for zone six, A171 New Bridge/Spital Bridge junction improvement is noted and

i approval be given to proceed with the amended scheme for A171 New Bridge/ Spital Bridge junction improvement, zone six, as shown in Appendix C of the report;

ii a further report concerning the 2023 consultation outcome for Whitby Harbourside Public realm scheme zones one to five, and any amended proposals for zones one to five, be brought to this committee in summer 2025.

This report deals only with zone six of Whitby Harbourside Public Realm and there is therefore a need for officers to report back on zones one to five.

There has been strong support for this junction improvement for some time; during the consultation period of an Experimental scheme in spring/summer 2021, which trialled traffic restrictions around the swing bridge, and during the most recent public consultation in November/December 2023.

There is a practical need to signalise this junction as, without doing so, it would be very difficult to proceed with the remainder of the Whitby Harbourside Public Realm proposals, which are likely to involve flexible pedestrianisation of the area around Whitby swing bridge. This is because when Whitby swing bridge is closed to traffic (pedestrianised), all vehicles wishing to travel between the east side of Whitby and the town centre need to use A171 New Bridge/Spital Bridge junction. The right turn from Spital Bridge to A171 New Bridge is a particularly difficult manoeuvre to make with the junction in it’s present, unsignalised state.

Whitby Town Council is in support of the proposals generally, although they are concerned about delay causing potential frustration, and have requested to see greater detail of the traffic signals design.

The Local Member is in full support of the proposals.

Funding for the scheme has been provided by Whitby town deal.

Many respondents to the 2023 consultation questioned whether a roundabout would have been a more suitable solution. A roundabout instead of traffic signals was considered but ruled out for several practical reasons – see paragraphs 5.1 – 5.4 of the report.