Step forward for multi-million-pound plan to repair crumbling piers

A LONG campaign to get Whitby’s piers mended is almost at an end after Scarborough Council’s planning and development committee approved the repair plans for the crumbling structures.

A report recommended approval for the multi-millionpound refurbishment planned to take place next year, providing the funding can be sourced.

Both Whitby’s east and west piers have protected the town from the sea’s wrath since the 18th century, but the Grade IIlisted structures have fallen into a state of disrepair.

Locals, spearheaded by the Fight4Whitby group, have been calling on the borough council to act before the flood defences fail, citing a report by Royal Haskoning back in 2009 which referred to a number of major defects on the structures, highlighting the need for “urgent” repairs.

The council’s cabinet member for harbours and flood protection, Coun Mike Cockerill, said surveys conducted this year have shown that the original construction of the defences “was far more robust than initially believed”.

The planning committee granted listed building consent for the work to be carried out to the borough council-owned structures.

David Walker, the authority’s senior planning officer, said: “The piers are vital as coastal defences and as an integral part of safeguarding the harbour.”

Plans for metal gates to keep people out have been abandoned in favour of chains and posts.