THE full cost of preventing the destruction of Scarborough’s sea defences has soared to £221 million.

The height of many of the old sea walls is insufficient to prevent severe wave overtopping which causes damage to the promenades and adjacent area, presenting a serious risk to public safety.

The figure, for the Scarborough Holbeck to Scalby Mills Coastal Defence Strategy, was put forward in an annual report to Scarborough Council by Cllr Andrew Backhouse, its portfolio holder for coastal defences. (more…)

PLANS to rescue 56 homes on the cliff edge at Scarborough could be scuppered by an agreement entered into by the council in 2007, according to watchdogs Natural England.

The organisation’s regional director has also expressed his surprise that planning permission was ever given to build the bungalows when it was known that the land they are built on was at risk of landslip.

He added that, rather than spending £20 million on shoring up the homes at Knipe Point, Cayton Bay – as Scarborough Council is hoping to do – it might be better to relocate the families living in the threatened properties. (more…)

AN organisation that represents farmers and landowners in Scarborough has condemned plans to remove safeguards in the new public right of access to the English coast.

The Country and Land Business Association (CLA) says it is shocked that Natural England, the official conservation and wildlife body, wants to remove safeguards that would have stopped the public walking across private gardens and parks.

The rural economy experts say it is “astonishing” that Natural England told the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee it had drawn up a map showing up to 5,000 gardens and parks could be hit.

A spokesman for the regional CLA covering Yorkshire, said: “It is extraordinary that Natural England thinks this is an acceptable way to act. We find it outrageous that the right of householders to enjoy the privacy of their own coastal gardens is at threat.”

At the meeting Natural England said rural property owners would just have to “trust” them on being fair in the implementation of the coastal access plans published recently in the draft Marine Bill.

Story by Trevor Hayes on the Scarborough Evening News website