Issue - meetings

Recommendations

It is recommended that Executive:

i.            Approve option 2 to decommission the cliff lift and agree a capital budget of £199k to be met from the Strategic Capacity Reserve and

ii.           discontinue the free replacement bus service.

Considered a report by the Corporate Director Environment in respect of the future of Whitby Cliff Lift. Introducing the report, the Executive Member for Highways and Transportation, Councillor Malcom Taylor recognised the strong public feeling about the Whitby Cliff Lift. He noted that the lift had been closed by Scarborough Borough Council in April 2022 and highlighted that the debate included both the condition of the lift and the cost-effectiveness of the seasonal bus service. Usage figures for 2025 showed a significant decline, resulting in a cost of £41.63 per one‑way journey, which he considered unsustainable.

Two public questions were then presented to the Executive as follows:

Councillor Sandra Turner

Councillor Turner acknowledged the financial constraints but stressed the importance of the lift. She highlighted its role in servicing over 160 beach huts, including 10 luxury huts, and providing essential disability access. She reported a recent incident where a person using a mobility scooter suffered an accident on the zig‑zag path, requiring coastguard and ambulance assistance. She emphasised Whitby’s status as one of the UK's top seaside destinations, drawing millions of visitors annually, and expressed concern that removal of assets would diminish its appeal. She therefore asked on behalf of a resident that no decision be taken until up‑to‑date costed quotes are provided at a public meeting.

Peter Graham (read out by Councillor Phil Trumper)

Firstly I would like to thank the Scarborough and Whitby Councillors in particular Councillors Trumper and Swannick for their unanimous support for re opening the above, creating a business plan and asking for the lift to be maintained annually going forward which is something that SBC neglected previously.

I also thank the experts from Woodsmith Mine for their two inspections and for proving the £5m worse case scenario price obtained by SBC is irrelevant at best or simply a tool to get the lift closed.

Further to the meeting at Whitby on Monday 2nd March I fully understand the way NYC apply for Blue Flag Beach status.

In applying I can only presume an able-bodied person sat at a desk fills in the application without consultation with Whitby Disabled Action Group or Whish.  Both are perplexed to having never been consulted on the accessibility of the beach.

The facilities that are provided to back up the Yes answer are all based halfway along the beach near the lift but nowhere near either slipway. See answers below supplied by Chris Bourne for the two questions and answers submitted on the application.

NYC are earning a lot of money from Whitby which has increased recently with the second homes council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 868