£22m ‘adrenaline sports’ plan backed
Scarborough Council’s cabinet has approved a multi-million pound plan that seeks to establish the Yorkshire coast as a “destination of choice” for adventure and adrenaline activities.
Cabinet members voted in favour of adopting the Adrenalin and Adventure Sports Feasibility plan as an official part of council policy.
A feasibility study commissioned by the authority sets out a long-term strategy for “harnessing the potential of the region to provide adrenalin activity sports” and ways in which locals, visitors, and international tourists can be drawn to Scarborough.
The study proposes an “inward capital investment” of £20m to create an “inland surfing centre” as well as investing £2m on a climbing,
BMX and skating centre, with a combined economic gain of up to £1.2m annually.
Cllr Jim Grieve, the council’s cabinet lead on the project, said the authority wants residents across the borough to be able to access the adventure and adrenaline sports “on our doorstep” and to develop tourism in the area.
Cllr Grieve said: “It has to be ambitious because it has to stand the test of time. We have a massive growth of adventure sports here on the coast and we have had a massive growth in the love of the outdoors that Covid has brought, which is a fantastic thing.”
The cabinet member for quality of life added: “The cycling element is a massive part of this and putting some structure together to allow people to connect on a cycling level is a great thing. Working with the likes of British Cycling and other bodies is key to making this happen.”
The council has said that its North Bay Masterplan, which seeks to create more leisure activities and luxury hotels in Scarborough, could bring “over £100m of investment” to the area.
Last year Scarborough Council appointed Mullhall Leisure to conduct the adventure sports feasibility study, which identified “key areas for development”.
According to the council report, there were 94 responses to the survey targeted at organisations and 262 completed surveys from individuals, with 86 per cent of respondents reportedly stating that “current experiences need improvement”.
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