Million-pound tourist centre to be unveiled
New-look visitor attraction set to open with improvements to help children learn
A million-pound centre for one of the area’s most treasured tourist attractions is set to be finally unveiled, seven months after work begun.
The new RSPB Seabird Centre at Bempton Cliffs is set to open over Easter weekend, the charity has confirmed.
Over £1.3 million has been pumped into the project, and s i t e manager Kei t h Cl a rkson said he is thrilled to see the ambitious project finally opening, just as the birds return to the cliffs for the summer.
“It’s been really exciting watching the development take shape over the last seven months and we’d like to thank everyone involved for all their hard work in getting us to this point,” he said.
“We w e l c o m e a r o u n d 76,000 visitors annually, who come to get spectacular views of the quarter of a million seabirds which make their home on the cliffs here each year.
“Hopefully the new centre will provide them with an even better experience than they had before.”
T h e c e nt r e, whi c h h a s l argely been f unded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), will open on April 3 at 9.30am.
To celebrate the opening, an array of events are being staged including a performance by the Coastal Voices Community Choir and regular puffin patrols.
Guests will also have the chance to have photos taken with Mrs P, the site’s resident puffin.
Work on the project started last September, after £639,700 was obtained in grant funding from the HLF.
A further £452,784 was obtained from the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) and over £300,000 of funding from the RSPB.
The reception has been refurbished, with sheltered space for school trips, more accessible footpaths and car parking space.
Bempton’s viewing platform has also been revamped, with a new viewing point at Mosey Downgate. The centre will be open daily from 9.30am until 5pm in summer, and until 4pm in winter. See the Mercury on April 9 for pictures. A Filey community stalwart has been honoured at the Borough’s Big Thank You Awards.
Diane Glanvill beat off stiff competition to win the Boyes-sponsored Good Deeds award.
She received huge appl ause a s s he c ol l e c t e d her award at Tuesday’s ceremony at Scarborough’s Spa Complex.
She said she was “overwhelmed” to win, adding: “Fi l ey i s such a s peci a l community.
“I’ve lived in some diff e r e nt p l a c e s , b ut I ’ v e never lived somewhere so charitable as Filey.
“Whenever somebody needs something doing, everyone helps.”
She urged more people to put themselves forward, adding: “There are hundreds of people who do what I do.”
The awards ceremony h e a r d h o w Di a n e g o e s “above and beyond” in her community work.
There was more awards j oy f o r t he t own, when Fi l ey’s Sea Cadets were announced as the runnerup i n th e Un i fo r m e d Groups category.
Turn to pages 30 and 31 for coverage.
‘It’s been really exciting watching the development
take shape’