Concerns over £11m revamp of pier ‘are fantasy’
THE LEADER of Scarborough Borough Council has branded concerns from local traders about an £11m redevelopment of the West Pier as “fantasy and farce”.
The authority took the unusual step of issuing a statement to rubbish claims made in an open letter last week by Scarborough Seafront Community Action Group that the project would damage existing businesses and that it had been secured dishonestly.
It comes after business cases for six regeneration projects in Scarborough were approved by the Government, along with Town Deal funding of £20.2m, with more than half of that set to be spent on creating retail and event space on the West Pier.
However, the action group claims the West Pier will become direct competition for the rest of the town, harm businesses and that there had been no consultation. It also said the council had been dishonest in its application as town deal funding is for struggling town centres and the West Pier is not in the town centre nor is the seafront a struggling trading community.
Coun Steve Siddons, council leader, said: “The campaigners – spurred on by one vocal trader – really are clutching at straws by suggesting that the council has lied to government. The claims being made are fantasy and farce in equal measure.
“We only want the best for Scarborough. A transformative plan for West Pier has been put forward yet it seems a small group of people are determined to prevent an £11m investment.
“Fortunately, the plans have the backing of government, many other town centre business owners and leaders who form the Town Deal board for Scarborough. They see the benefit to resi
dents and visitors of a redeveloped harbour and pier.”
The council statement argued the Government had approved the business cases, they had been scrutinised by expert civil servants and had there been any doubt over validity they would have been rejected. It said there had been 29 consultation and information events since June 2021 for the West Pier.
Concerns over loss of parking to allow for events had been acknowledged and a review of onstreet car parking is being carried out by North Yorkshire County Council, it added.
The Seafront Action Group said: “We are all aghast at the castegations and assertions of ignorance doled out to us all. Anger and disbelief are the reactions to this outrageous statement of insults and denials.
“All the statements we issue are the truth, backed up with more than enough firm evidence.”