Can you offer donkey rides on our beaches?
An appeal has begun to find someone to run donkey rides in three towns on the North Yorkshire coast.
The animals have been a regular feature on the beaches of Filey, Whitby and Scarborough for years and are almost as iconic as buckets, spades and ice cream.
The council is inviting bids from donkey owners to offer rides in the three towns.
Operators will be expected to offer rides between Easter and September each year and must have public liability insurance in place to minimum value of £5 million.
Everyone involved in providing the donkey rides will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in place.
The council is also looking for help with another staple of the seaside … the deckchair.
Two hire concessions are on offer in Filey, at Coble Landing (200 chairs) and at Royal Parade (100 chairs).
Chairs are provided for the operator and must be offered for hire between May and September, maintained and repaired as necessary.
Expressions of interest should be sent via email to estates@scarborough.gov.uk
Cllr Jim Grieve, cabinet member with responsibility for tourism, said: “The idea of a seaside resort was conceived on the North Yorkshire coast.
“For some people a visit to Filey, Whitby or Scarborough isn’t complete without a donkey ride or soaking up the sunshine from the comfort of a deckchair with sand between their toes.
“While our towns and villages offer much more than just beaches, we are keen to offer an authentic seaside experience for visitors who want that.
“We’d like to hear from anyone interested in running the concessions on offer.”