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.

Cllr Backhouse added the strategy was due for “imminent” approval by the Environment Agency.

The council has adopted a policy of “holding the line” on the sea defences between Holbeck and Scalby Mills, including the Sea Life Centre, North Bay Cliffs, Clarence Gardens, The Holms, Foreshore Road, South Cliff Gardens, Rose Garden, South Bay Pool and Holbeck Gardens.

The one exception to this is along the Spa and Spa Chalet frontage where an ‘advance the line’ policy could be adopted, potentially leading to a new sea wall being built in front of the existing wall, which would then be protected by rock armour. Work to protect the sea wall, buildings and cliffs along South Cliff is estimated to cost tens of millions of pounds.

But experts have suggested a further £162 million may need to be spent on various schemes to be covered by Government grants. Consultant Royal Haskoning has begun site investigations as part of a three-year feasibility study around the Spa Complex, funded by a £600,000 grant from the Environment Agency.

Cllr Backhouse said: “We have to protect the coastline to keep the unique character of Scarborough, but not in such a way that is ‘cold’ or industrial. Whatever we do has to be sympathetic to the area.”
Work will take place in two stages, the second of which will only start once further funding is approved by the Environment Agency.

Story in the Scarborough Evening News

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.

Peter Nottage told the Evening News that his organisation would do everything it could to help in the negotiations to find a solution, but he also emphasised that Natural England had a statutory duty to protect certain areas for their geographical importance, and one of the reasons that Cayton Bay is important is specifically the landslip.

“We have a responsibility to protect natural features and part of the importance of the area at Knipe Point is around the process itself and how that develops,” he said.

“We’re fully aware of the interests and importance of the residents. Of course I understand their fears, as a homeowner myself I fully understand that no-one wants to even have to think about their home falling into the sea.”

However, he said that efforts to save the homes on the site could be fruitless because of the 2007 Shoreline Management Policy, which was signed by Scarborough Council and which sets out the framework for the coastline between the Tyne and Filey Bay for the next 100 years. He said that the policy clearly states that there is to be “no active intervention” at Cayton Bay.

Story in the Scarborough Evening News

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