Plan aims to create 8,000 jobs on coast

AN AMBITIOUS plan to create 8,000 new jobs on the Yorkshire coast by 2030, has been unveiled by Scarborough Council.

In addition the authority which covers the resorts of Scarborough, Whitby and Filey together with the major part of the North York Moors National Park, wants 10,000 new homes built which will provide 4,000 construction jobs.

David Kelly, the authority’s head of regeneration and economy, told councillors in the seaside town this week that the authority’s area had a low wage economy and skills base, with below national and regional average business start-ups and survival rates.

The area also had the lowest life expectancy in North Yorkshire and the lowest levels of literacy and numeracy in the county – however he outlined to councillors ways of reversing some of these trends.

Mr Kelly said there were major opportunities to reverse the trend including the potential York Potash mine development, near Whitby, the massive Dogger Bank offshore wind farm with up to 3,000 turbines, development of Whitby Business Park, and new educational investments.

The Dogger Bank scheme will be the largest of its kind in the world and would create a potential 2,000 jobs in operational support and maintenance.

“The council’s aim is to radically increase the skills of the workforce and improve the educational attainment and aspirations of young people,” said Mr Kelly.

He said it was the aim that Scarborough would be established as the “most highly skilled coastal town in England by 2030”.

Mr Kelly also said there was also an aim for the seaside town to be recognised as a national hotspot of higher and further education.