Latest News

Waiting… and donating to our legal costs

While we are waiting for the ruling by the Judge, now is the time for donating to our legal costs. We briefed a specialist barrister to put our case in the London High Court a couple of weeks ago, and now they would like to be paid. By donating to www.CrowdJustice.com/case/Fight-for-Whitby you will be donating […]

Our case in the High Court is over, verdict now awaited…

Our case is over finally over, having reached the High Court in London last week. After 8 years of Scarborough Borough Council delays, would it ever have if SBC continued to exist? One has to wonder. Judge Sweeting now has to determine: How should the 1905 Whitby Act of Parliament be properly applied in these […]

SBC failed so many times – in the High Court tomorrow

Failed by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) over more than 8 years. SBC failed to have its Annual Accounts signed-off for 8 years. Just imagine if you failed to have your Tax Return signed-off for 8 years! That’s 8 long years of Fight4Whitby ‘Objecting’ to SBC siphoning-off the lucrative income from Whitby Harbour car parks, mooring […]

High Court case at last! Please donate as much as you can to Fight4Whitby

Our High Court case starts on Monday 4th March 2024! Fight4Whitby’s barrister will argue against the barrister for ex-Scarborough Borough Council (now abolished, but absorbed into North Yorkshire Council). The High Court Judge will hear both sides of the arguement and then decide who is right and who is not. Our Local Authority claim that […]

Where is Whitby Harbour??

The 1905 ‘Whitby Harbour’ Act, which requires all revenue obtained from harbour land to be ring-fenced for use on maintaining and developing Whitby  Harbour, has seemingly not been upheld since around 2005. Scarborough Borough Council, now North Yorkshire Council, are questioning the extent of Whitby Harbour (SBC have claimed that Marina car parks and Endeavour […]

Ungagged again and Yorkshire Post’s leading front page story

Yes, our Lone Rate-payer is ungagged again and has given the Yorkshire Post their main front page story in this weekend’s paper, published Sat 17 Feb 2024. Their headline is ‘Court case could cost authority millions’ and tells how a ‘Whitby resident’s legal fight over Harbour starts in March’. The Yorkshire Post lead article makes […]

Maybe soon…

Things maybe happening at last. Watch this space…

Why, Why, Why?

Why did Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) change their firm of solicitors dealing with Whitby Harbour issues after 6 years with the previous firm? Why doesn’t SBC just do what the External Auditor recommended and ask the Courts to decide on the exact boundaries of Whitby Harbour, once and for all? Why has the Opposition Group […]

Ungagged at last! News Update

We are ungagged now that Scarborough Borough Council have held their Extraordinary Council Meeting as their External Auditor ‘recommended’. The following full page ad was placed in the Whitby Advertiser for September 2021, distributed free to 24,000 potential customers: ‘Ungagged at last! ‘Five years on and we are still fighting to protect the funds earned […]

Fight4Whitby reply to SBC story in Whitby Gazette

This is our Fight4Whitby reply to the Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) story of their Extraordinary Council Meeting – see previous Post. In reply to the SBC version, Fight4Whitby spokesman John Freeman sent this letter to the Whitby Gazette: ‘Fight for our town is worth the effort. ‘Re “Council’s court fight over Harbour money” (Whitby Gazette […]

Front Page News at Last for Fight4Whitby

The front page of the Whitby Gazette dated 29 July 2021 has the headline: ‘Council’s court fight over harbour money.’ Good to see Fight4Whitby on the front page of the local paper at last! The lead story on the front page that week describes the Emergency Council Meeting of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) on the […]

Scarborough Borough Council abolished by Government!

Abolished? Yes, it IS true. SBC will be abolished! Announced just 2 days before SBC’s Extraordinary Council Meeting (see previous Post), the Secretary of State for Local Government published his plans for local government changes in North Yorkshire. SBC WILL be abolished, although it will take a couple of years to complete the process. Many […]

That was an interesting EGM of SBC

This morning’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) was live streamed on Youtube – but with an unexpected ending. The meeting was called in response to the External Auditors decision that SBC should ask a judge to decide on the boundary of Whitby Harbour. ALL the SBC councillors were asked to vote […]

Scarborough Borough Council calls Extraordinary Council Meeting

Scarborough Borough Council has at last called an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 23rd July, to ask its elected councillors to vote on whether or not to accept the Statutory Recommendation issued by the External Auditor on 26th March 2021. The Recommendation* is that SBC should ask a Judge to decide on where the limits of […]

Possible end in sight for long-running saga of SBC’s accounts

A long-running saga which has seen Scarborough Council’s accounts for the last 4 years left in limbo could soon be concluded. The council’s 2017/18, 2016/17 and 2015/16 accounts were held up as the authority is locked in a legal challenge with a group of residents over how it classifies income and expenditure from Whitby harbour. Last […]

Why is Whitby’s East Pier ‘leaking’ after £7 million repairs?

Should the East Pier be ‘leaking’ after the £7.6 million repairs? A Whitby resident wrote to SBC (and their reply): Dear Sir, I am writing to you in your capacity as the SBC Project Manager for the  recent repair works carried out on the two main piers in Whitby Harbour. You will note from the attached […]

Annual Report and Accounts 2018/19 for Fight4Whitby

Annual Report and Statement of Accounts 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 Fight4Whitby Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year to 30 June 2019 Why are we campaigning?  Whitby is its harbour. Surrounded by the jumble of cottages clinging to the cliffs on either side, the harbour is the heart of […]

Dear SBC Councillors – Fight4Whitby response to SBC claim that all is ‘in order’

Dear SBC Councillors,   I must respond to Cllr Mallory’s reported assurances that all is as it should be with the SBC Annual Accounts, despite the fact that SBC’s Accounts have not been signed off by the External Auditor since 2014/15. The Whitby Urban District Council Act 1905 says that all income from Whitby harbour land […]

‘Accounts in order’ says SBC – but their External Auditor still ‘unable to determine’

Accounts for SBC are ‘in order’ says Scarborough Borough Councillor A SBC Councillor has moved to assure the public that the authority’s accounts are “in order” despite not being signed off for a fourth year running due to a legal challenge. “Cllr Helen Mallory (Con) told yesterday’s Audit Committee meeting that the challenge to the authority was […]

External auditor may not sign-off SBC Annual Accounts for the 4th year

External auditor unlikely to sign-off the Annual Accounts for Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) for the fourth year. “Latest reports indicate Scarborough Borough Council is unlikely to have their financial accounts signed off for a fourth year by the external auditor, with a proposal to implement a Harbour Revision Order that will “clearly set out the […]

Work starts on £2m flood protection scheme

New concrete flood wall to safeguard some Church Street properties “Work on the £2million scheme to help protect Whitby from tidal flooding is under way, and is expected to be completed by the end of Spring 2020. The flood alleviation scheme will involve the construction of a reinforced concrete flood wall, 303 metres long with […]

Communication is the key, says the new Mayor of SBC

” Communication is the message from the new Mayor of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC). Starting her year in office, she warned the new-look council it must listen to the public, as it heads into uncertain times. “She said the new Council must learn the lessons of May’s local elections, where the Conservatives lost power and […]

Bright Orange Wall on Whitby’s West Pier to go

“An orange wall on Whitby’s iconic West Pier that caused an outcry a few months ago is to be replaced, writes Carl Gavaghan (Local Democracy Reporting Service)” in last week’s Whitby Gazette. “The stone parapet on the structure was put in place earlier this year [see posts March 2019], as part of a £7.6m scheme […]

People Power defends Whitby’s heritage

People Power can be shown in many ways: via local government elections, by objecting to planning applications or by signing a petition to keep an important local pub name. All three of these have worked in Whitby during May 2019. Elections: Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has been much changed by the May elections and is now a council […]

Flood deflector wall plan approved for Whitby

A new flood deflector wall at Whitby’s West Pier was approved by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) earlier this month. It is designed to deflect waves which come up the slipway back into Whitby Harbour. This article appeared in the Whitby Gazette: “A controversial plan to build a flood deflector wall at Whitby’s historic west pier […]

New Leader of SBC – dare we hope for a new era?

“Having listened to the new Leader of Scarborough Borough Council’s opening speech, dare we hope that a new era is about to dawn on the Borough? Certainly the new Leader, Mr Siddon’s words give us a glimpse of a proper way to govern, rather than instructions coming down from the inner workings of the previous SBC […]

New Leader of Scarborough Borough Council says “It’s time for change.’

Leader Steve Siddons was elected on Tuesday 7th May 2019 and said: ‘No more Business as Usual – anything that didn’t work must now be reviewed.’ Following the recent elections, Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) is now in ‘No Overall Control’, where no one political party has a majority. Following his unopposed election by the newly-elected SBC […]

Hope for Whitby as ‘All Change’ at Scarborough Borough Council

There is hope for Whitby as last week’s election wiped out the party which controlled Scarborough Borough Council (SBC). Thank-you to everyone who voted for change. We hope we are not going to be disappointed. The Yorkshire Post published the following report on Friday 03 May 2019: “In Scarborough, where the Conservatives had effective control with […]

Residents get the chance to vote for change – this Thursday

Residents of Whitby will recall that at last year’s annual Town Assembly a Whitby Town Poll was proposed by a member of the public. This asked for a vote to take place for Whitby to move away from under the control of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC), over to the new Tees Valley Combined Authority. This […]

Vote for candidates who will actually support Whitby.

This letter about candidates now standing for election was sent to Fight4Whitby and also published in the Whitby Gazette this month: “The list of candidates for the imminent Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) elections has been published and it makes interesting reading. At a time when the general public are largely disenchanted with politics, both nationally and […]

Councillors must be held to account

This letter about the forthcoming elections to Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) responds to the previous points raised in the Whitby Gazette: “After reading your lead letter from a reader re the current situation of councillors coming out of hibernation to collect our votes (Gazette, March 29), I would like to add the following: During the […]

Election could put some fresh faces on Scarborough Borough Council

As the election of councillors to Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) draws nearer, many of the Whitby area’s current incumbents are emerging from a 4-year hibernation and attempting to present themselves as fearless champions of the local community. I suggest that everybody looks past their heroic tales of daring-do, and asks each of them a few […]

Tourist Information Centre needs a key location in Whitby

This response letter (about Whitby’s Tourist Information Centre) to the Whitby Gazette was published on 08 March 2019: “Following on from David Slater’s excellent letter in the Gazette (March 1), I do wonder why Scarborough Borough Council didn’t see this ideal opportunity to take over the perfectly located NatWest building for a new modern Tourist Information […]

New Tourist Information Centre for Whitby’s old NatWest Bank?

A new Tourist Information Centre (TIC) would be a better use for Whitby’s old ‘prime location’ NatWest Bank, says this ‘Voice of Whitby’ letter in the Whitby Gazette: “I have visited Whitby now for more than 50 years and have treasured it as a place of character and sensitive development amid so many soulless resorts […]

Where is our missing footbridge, SBC?

Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) said that the footbridge to our East Pier Extension would be installed during the ‘winter shutdown’ between ‘November 5 2018 and March 17 2019’. Sadly, that deadline ended yesterday and still there’s no sign of the footbridge which SBC removed in 2001. This is the story as published by the Yorkshire Post, 12.51 Thursday 30 August […]

Pier wall mistake in new construction

“The appearance of the new wall next to the link bridge to the West Pier Extension has been criticised by a local councillor. “The parapet wall was demolished and rebuilt as part of the first Phase of the Whitby Piers refurbishment project. However, contractors have made a mistake while building it, which left the wall looking […]

Safety Railings on the East Pier – Part 2

 Part 2 of a letter about safety railings sent to Fight4Whitby and also published in the Whitby Gazette this month. The 2009 Royal Haskoning report made the following comment in respect of the East Pier: ‘The pier has no guard rail around the pier edge despite drops of up to 8m, with the exception of […]

Safety Railings on the East Pier – Part 1

Lack of Safety Railings Needs Addressing. I feel morally obliged to draw attention to a situation on Whitby’s East Pier, which I am convinced will eventually result in somebody being either seriously injured or even killed. These are the relevant facts: The sides of the East Pier are practically vertical. In parts the deck of the […]

SBC Accounts and Fight4Whitby – progress?

‘A 3-year-long legal challenge which means that Scarborough Council’s accounts cannot be signed off shows no sign of coming to a conclusion. The authority’s 2017/18 accounts are being held up as the council is locked in a legal challenge with a group of residents over how it classifies income and expenditure from Whitby harbour. Accounts […]

Chief Executive Quits SBC

“Council’s Chief Executive to leave at the end of June” “Scarborough Borough Council’s (SBC’s) Chief Executive has announced his intention to retire from his role. Jim Dillon will leave the local authority at the end of June this year [2019]. His duties and responsibilities will remain the same until his departure and will include his […]

New Year Resolutions from Fight4Whitby – to continue fighting for Whitby Harbour

Our Resolutions for this New Year remain as ever, so if you love Whitby as much as we do, why not donate? Our Community Group ‘Fight4Whitby’ is challenging Scarborough Borough Council about SBC’s administration of Whitby Harbour. We need to raise funds to pay for legal advice from specialist marine / harbour lawyers. Our Resolutions are […]

Dear Santa: An early reminder for NEXT Christmas and your presents to Whitby…

Dear Santa, Once again we are very disappointed not to get the presents we asked you for – year after year after year. For the last 17 years we have asked for a new footbridge from the East Pier to its Extension – but all we have seen are paper plans for a thinly disguised Banana Bridge, […]

SBC cementing our heritage in concrete

‘Cementing our heritage in concrete’ is a sad concept, as this Letter to the Whitby Gazette (30 Nov 2018) puts it so nicely: “Following on from Mike Upton’s letter (Whitby Gazette, November 23) regarding the repairs by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) to Whitby’s Grade II Listed piers, which have just been repaired using concrete instead of stone, […]

A ‘like-for-like’ repair of a bodged job

A ‘like-for-like’ repair has been made on the concrete block at the end of Whitby’s West Pier. But that concrete block was itself a bodged job, done decades ago – possibly even post-war. The original bodged job was at least hidden behind a sandstone cladding, which has not now been replaced ‘in case it falls off’. Listed […]

Fury at ‘blatant act of vandalism’ on Whitby Piers

This ‘Blatant act of vandalism’ letter was published in the Whitby Gazette on Fri 23 Nov 2018: “Could someone/anyone please explain to me how Scarborough Borough Council has been allowed to get away with this blatant act of vandalism on what is a Grade II Listed structure/building, by taking a saw to the sandstone that […]

Further frustration at Whitby pier work delays

“Frustration caused by Pier work delays. Did we honestly expect anything else? Scarborough Borough Council just laughs in our faces whiletaking our monies. After 10 years of prevarications and delays we are now told of yet another delay. How much, if any, work was actually done in the past few weeks? “Will this delay now […]

Pier work starts – but then stops a month later!

Work actually started on Whitby’s crumbling piers in early October 2018 – but then stopped again in early November 2018, due to bad weather. We already had Storm Ali, Storm Brodagh and Storm Callum while that work was going on, but there will now be a 6-month shut down until the end of March 2019. ‘Work […]

SBC Accounts STILL not signed off – after 3 years…

From the Whitby Gazette website yesterday, as well as on local radio: “The long-running saga over Scarborough Borough Council’s (SBC’s) accounts continues to rumble on. For the third year running the authority’s accounts have not been signed off following a legal challenge. “The 2017/18 accounts are being held up as the authority is locked in […]

£9million budget set for Whitby Piers upgrade

” £9million project scheduled to start this month” [September 2018]. This story was published in the Whitby Gazette on Friday 28 September 2018. Read the story here… “An authorised budget has been secured for the refurbishment of Whitby’s East and West Piers. Scarborough Borough Council (SBC)  have confirmed a £9million budget for the works to […]

Whitby East Pier Footbridge Approved

The East Pier Extension footbridge was removed by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) some 17 years ago. Now, thanks to funding from Whitby Town Council, SBC is planning to replace the footbridge sometime this winter. You might ask why Whitby Town Council has to pay for something that SBC is actually responsible for? After all, isn’t it SBC staff who will no […]

SBC promises, promises, promises – but when, when, when will repairs to Whitby Piers start…?

Promises are all very well, but they do wear a bit thin when nothing ever happens. Scarborough Borough Council promised that ‘Work to repair Whitby Piers will start this year [2018]’. Then they promised that ‘Work will start in September – possibly as soon as July [2018]’. Now we have just one working day left in […]

Fund Already Exists to Pay for Whitby Pier Repairs

‘We read that Whitby Town Council (WTC) has stepped up to the plate to fund the return of the footbridge to the East Pier Extension. Admirable and it shows that WTC cares and wants to put right a wrong done by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC), their big brother. SBC has failed to maintain our piers […]

Missing footbridge on Whitby’s historic piers to be replaced this winter

Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has revealed that the East Pier footbridge will be put up during a break in the £7.6 million scheme to repair the structures when the weather turns. The original footbridge was removed in 2001 because of damage caused by the sea. The council has now announced when the £300,000 structure will […]

The 1905 Act of Parliament about Whitby Harbour still in force

The legal advice obtained by Fight4Whitby was very clear: the 1905 Act is still in force. SBC is the successor Statutory Harbour Authority to WUDC. SBC is therefore obliged to comply with the 1905 Act, subject to any amendments made by subsequent legislation. Protracted legal correspondence with SBC failed to obtain any satisfactory response.  […]

Whitby harbour and why Fight4Whitby is campaigning

Whitby is its harbour. Surrounded by the jumble of cottages clinging to the cliffs on either side, the harbour is the heart of the town and the reason for its existence. Whitby Urban District Council (WUDC) recognised that the economy of the town was dependent on maintenance and continued investment into the harbour. By means […]

Temporary flood defence barrier would make more sense

“A solid flood wall along Church Street, in one of our main Conservation Areas, has just been approved by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC). They are also looking at a flood deflector wall near Whitby’s West Pier. Instead of playing King Canute with concrete, why don’t they just accept that a number of times per year […]

SBC accounts still in limbo for 3rd year in a row

‘Still in limbo’ is the story now on the Yorkshire Coast Radio website. It is almost unheard of for any local authority NOT to have its annual  accounts ‘signed-off’ by the external auditor for 3 years in a row. Yet this is the situation Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) finds itself in, following formal objections on behalf of Fight4Whitby about SBC’s […]

SBC chest-thumping claims re funding some repairs to Whitby Piers

I read about the chest-thumping from Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) in the Whitby Gazette. Their Council Leader and their Portfolio Holder for Harbours and Flooding write about how clever they have been to beg, borrow and cajole the £9 million required for the long-awaited repairs to the stone piers which protect Whitby. (£9 million is the same amount […]

About time too – and SBC says it has finally found the funds for some Whitby Pier repairs

This time it seems that SBC may actually have found some money… and about time, too! News is coming in thick and fast that Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has finally found the funds for some of the long-overdue repairs to Whitby harbour. You might just ask if Fight4Whitby pressure has anything to do with it? In May 2018 SBC […]

Good Luck to SBC with their Open Letter to the Secretary of State for the Environment

Fight4Whitby had absolutely No Luck when we wrote an Open Letter to SBC! The Leader of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has just published an Open Letter to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This Open Letter asks about the ‘un-fairness’ of lack of money from the electricity, gas and water utility companies to pay for […]

Some News – at last!

At last, we are able to give you a little bit of News, thanks to the official Minutes of a recent SBC Cabinet meeting! The person who objected, on behalf of Fight4Whitby, to Scarborough Borough Council’s Annual Accounts is still legally ‘gagged’ by law… BUT at a meeting of SBC’s Cabinet on 12 June 2018 […]

Risk Assessment for the failure of Whitby Piers?

Does the Risk Assessment for the proposed refurbishment of Whitby Piers include the risks resulting from Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) NOT meeting its duties as the Statutory Harbour Authority? Whitby Piers are essential Harbour structures as well as Coastal Defence structures.  As the Statutory Harbour Authority for Whitby Harbour, SBC does have a duty to […]

Pier work to start ‘this Summer’ (2018) says Scarborough Borough Council…

This summer 2018 could see the start of the long-awaited repairs to Whitby’s crumbling piers, says SBC in a statement yesterday on Yorkshire Coast Radio. Councillor Cockerill said they were near to finalising a deal with contractors Balfour Beatty, now that funding for the £9 million project had been secured. If true, then much of the credit is […]

What is happening now?

Lots of things are happening – but some of them are ‘legal’, so we are not allowed to talk about them. What we CAN say is that Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) did publish their Draft Annual Accounts and LOTS of official questions have now been asked about the Whitby harbour income. These include the details of income from […]

SBC Draft Annual Accounts should be published today

The latest Draft Annual Accounts for Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) should be published today. SBC is probably the only local authority in England NOT to have their Annual Accounts signed-off by the External Auditor for the previous TWO years (2015/6 and 2016/7). This follows Objections by local electors about the allocation of the income from Whitby Harbour. As […]

Yet another SBC start date for repairs to Whitby Piers

SBC has given yet another start date of later ‘this year’ and even ‘possibly as soon as July’ for the long awaited repairs to Whitby’s crumbling Piers. This work would NOT include the vital Pier Extensions, which protect the Piers themselves. They were warned about the state of the Piers in a Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) survey in 2002, with further […]

Leaving Scarborough? Tees Valley Mayor suggests an option

On BBC Radio Tees yesterday*, Ben Houchen the Mayor of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) was asked about ‘adopting’ Whitby, if we left Scarborough Borough Council. He replied that Whitby joining the TVCA directly may not be possible, but one option would be for Whitby to join a Unitary Authority which is ALREADY within the […]

Editor of Whitby Gazette slams SBC leadership

The Editor  of the Whitby Gazette newspaper has used his Comment column to slam the leadership of Scarborough Borough Council. In a hard-hitting Editorial in this week’s edition (Fri 04 May 2018) he first comments on the most recent Town Poll call which was rejected by SBC as ‘unlawful’. [NB: These initial problems will be resolved […]

Scarborough says No to Whitby Town Poll question

They say No to the wording of the proposed question about ‘leaving Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) and give several reasons. One of these is ‘the question could mislead electors…’. They also say that ‘this demand for a Parish Poll cannot be accepted…’ and that it is hence ‘unlawful in its current form.’ Is it likely that Whitby will […]

Fascinating Radio and TV interviews about Whitby’s Town Poll

These fascinating interviews are from local radio and regional TV. They provide a fascinating insight into what our local councillor thinks of Whitby. Yorkshire Coast Radio: A poll asking whether Whitby should leave Scarborough Borough Council and join the Tees Valley Authority, is ‘not a legal question.’ That’s according to Scarborough Borough and North Yorkshire County Councillor […]

‘Whitby’s Big Poll’ is front page news in the Whitby Gazette

Whitby’s big poll – Ditch Scarborough Borough Council for the Tees Valley Combined Authority..? Whitby residents will be given the chance to have their say as a Town Poll is called on the big issue. Whitby’s MP has slammed a move to sever links with Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) as “a complete waste of time […]

TV News covers the call for Whitby Town Poll – broadcast on Fri 27 Apr 2018

This Friday both BBC and ITV regional TV News programmes plan to show their interviews about Whitby’s Town Poll. The interviews were recorded in and around Whitby earlier this week. The Town Poll will ask: ‘Do you want to leave Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, to become part of the new Tees Valley […]

Leave Scarborough Borough Council? There WILL be a Town Poll within 25 days!

‘Do you want Whitby to leave Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council to become part of the new Tees Valley Combined Authority instead?’ That is the question that will be put to the electors of Whitby Town in a Town Poll to be held in May this Year. The decision to call for […]

Last week’s Quiz Night a BIG success

Last Wednesday’s Quiz Night to raise funds for Fight4Whitby was a great success. There was a full house, with every single table occupied by a different team. The evening began at 7pm and the Quiz itself ran from 7.30 until a Supper Break at 8.30. After Pie and Peas (and more drinks!) the Quiz continued until […]

Quiz Night fund raiser this Wednesday 4th April 2018

Following the success of previous Fight4Whitby Quiz Nights, we are holding another fund raising event on Wednesday 4th April 2018. It will be held at the Con Club, Harrison’s Garage, Upgang Lane, Whitby. Why not put together a quiz team of 4/5 people and put your brains to the test? The cost of the Quiz Night is […]

Openly and transparently – you might ask?

New Government guidelines say all ports should be managed openly and transparently by a fit-for-purpose board. Compare that to Whitby Harbour and its Piers, managed by Scarborough Borough Council, where the SBC Portfolio Holder for Harbours holds all his regular meetings with the Harbour Master in private and no Minutes are published for public scrutiny. […]

New Guidelines for Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) and every other Harbour in England

The new Guidelines just published by the Government contain many useful suggestions, which we would love to see applied to Whitby harbour. Remember, SBC is the Strategic Harbour Authority for Whitby Harbour and every single Harbour Authority in England should be complying with these new Guidelines: “Harbour Board Effectiveness – Principles: “The Board and its committees […]

New Government Guidelines for ALL Ports in England

The Government, through its Department for Transport, has just issued new official Guidelines on the ‘Good Governance’ of ports and harbours in England this month (March 2018). The Introduction to the Guidelines says: ‘This guidance covers all Strategic Harbour Authorities regardless…’ Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) is the Strategic Harbour Authority (SHA) for Whitby harbour. See for […]

Part 2 of ‘Whitby Piers’ double page feature in Whitby Gazette

Part 2 continues from the previous Post – ‘Whitby piers repairs: what do we know? Your Whitby Gazette probes the issue that could affect us all… Steve Siddons, Leader of the Labour Group [on Scarborough Borough Council], said: ‘Up to 2010, all coastal protection work was paid for out of national taxation but now this […]

Double page feature on ‘Whitby Pier Repairs’ in Whitby Gazette

A double page feature article appeared in last week’s Whitby Gazette “Whitby Pier repairs: what do we know? Your Gazette probes the issue that could affect us all… It’s one of the biggest issues in Whitby, and one that could have catastrophic consequences – the condition of Whitby’s piers. In this special feature article, the […]

‘Can of worms’ now feeding the ‘chickens coming home to roost’?

Dear Editor, Is the ‘can of worms’ now feeding the ‘chickens coming home to roost’? Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) opened a can of worms by down-sizing our superb Tourist Information Centre (TIC), just before several years of Cook 250th Anniversary Celebrations. Together with HMS Dredgenot, that triggered a huge wave of local anger in Whitby. […]

Scarborough Borough Council’s spend on Whitby raises questions

I would like to follow up on the three letters published in your paper on 26th January 2018 which highlighted the shortcomings of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) and I comment as follows:- Scarborough Borough Council claims that the Council spend in Whitby is higher per head than Scarborough. Where do these figures come from? Cllr […]

Fight4Whitby Newsletter January / February 2018

This Newsletter for January / February 2018 will bring you up to date with some of the things that have been happening over the past year. Needless to say, for legal reasons, we can’t yet include everything… Fight4Whitby         Newsletter         Jan/Feb 2018 Dear Supporters, Fight4Whitby’s hard work, helped by your own considerable support, is now bearing […]

A step closer – but when will any work actually start?

Wow – a step closer to repairing Whitby Piers. Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has given itself Planning Permission to replace the bridge to the East Pier Extension – 17 years (yes, seventeen YEARS) after it failed! BUT – no money has yet been identified to fund it. On the other hand, the draining, cleaning and […]

Roker Pier restoration shows what could be done in Whitby

Roker Pier has just been reopened after storm damage in November 2016. This is a fine example of what could be done with Whitby Piers, if the same level of enthusiasm was shown by Scarborough Borough Council. 100 meters of railings were washed into the sea, including the coping stones they were set into, by huge […]

Inequality faces Whitby town despite high popularity ratings with visitors

There is great inequality within Scarborough Borough. A recent government Report on Social Mobility made for uncomfortable reading on the Yorkshire coast. It rated Scarborough Borough down at number 290-ish out of more than 300 areas. The cold wind off the North Sea has hidden this cold spot for a number of years. Lack of investment […]

Another Christmas and still no SBC money to repair Whitby Piers

Christmas is here yet again – and still Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) have not committed any of their own money to repair Whitby’s ‘decrepit’ sea defences. Where is the money for pier repairs? “Regarding the East Pier planning application: I notice Scarborough Borough Council has submitted a planning application under Week November 20 17/1202120/LB – Construction […]

Supporters like you have helped Fight4Whitby raise awareness in high places

Dear Supporters – Helped by your own considerable support, Fight4Whitby’s hard work is now bearing fruit in many ways, including in high places. Public awareness about the sad state of Whitby’s iconic Harbour is now at an all-time high – and the pressure is building on Scarborough Borough Council (SBC). SBC has finally submitted a planning […]

Amazed by the SBC Councillor’s confidence that Whitby piers won’t collapse

I am amazed by Councillor Cockerill’s confidence that ‘The piers are not in imminent danger of collapse’ (Whitby Gazette 27 Oct 2017). He is either very brave or very foolish. I am sure that few people would bet on escaping extreme weather conditions. When will Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) tell us honestly what is going […]

‘Whitby pier collapse is not imminent’ say Scarborough Borough Council

‘The piers are not in imminent danger of collapse’ claimed the SBC Councillor responsible for Ports and Harbours last month. – Oh good, so glad that he knows when the next Big Storm is going to be. I wonder if the officials responsible for the dangling railway line at Dawlish ever said anything quite as ‘brave’ as […]

BBC tv and radio News features the sad state of Whitby’s Piers

BBC Television featured Whitby’s crumbling piers in the Look North (Cumbria and North East) tea-time News yesterday. They interviewed SBC’s Portfolio Holder for Ports and Harbours and showed the gaping holes in the East Pier. Then they interviewed John Freeman, who is the Chair of Whitby and District Tourism Association. This morning, as part of the 9am […]

Questions about Scarborough Borough Council’s planning applications for the pier repairs

Several questions are raised by the welcome news that Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) plans to repair Whitby’s crumbling piers. SBC has now applied to themselves for planning permission, including a ‘works compound’ on Endeavour Wharf: The already approved SBC Finance Strategy 2017-2027 scheduled the work for 2019/20. However, the planning applications advise that the work will […]

Tourism Association asks SBC for details of pier repairs due in December

Background: Whitby District Tourism Association (WDTA) has written to Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) for clarification about the pier repairs due to start (according to SBC) in 6 weeks. SBC has applied to SBC for permission to turn Endeavour Wharf ‘car park’ into a Works Compound, to supply the repair work on both of Whitby’s crumbling main piers. […]

Storm Ophelia – a thank-you letter for its Southerly gales a few days ago

[Last weekend the British Isles were battered by Storm Ophelia, which started near the Azores and passed just West of Ireland] Dear Storm Ophelia, Thank-you for keeping well to the West of Whitby. Your South-westerly gales battered all the Western shorelines, but were ‘merely’ off-shore gales here on the Yorkshire coast. If your storm centre had […]

Your BIG chance to influence the future of Whitby Harbour – and all the others, too

Your help and support for Fight4Whitby has helped to bring a Government review of Best Practice for all Local Authority ports and harbours in the UK. Give your views (link below) on how you would like to see our harbour managed in future: Dear Supporters, Fight4Whitby’s hard work, helped by your own considerable support, is now bearing fruit in many ways […]

Much-needed pier repairs taking far too long – 04 Oct 2017

Two cheers to Councillor Cockerill announcing that weight-bearing tests on Whitby piers are being undertaken prior to major repairs being carried out. Let’s not forget that these repairs have been urgent  since 2002, when an official report stated that the piers had a residual life of  less than 10 years. But Councillor Cockerill states that […]

Truth versus Spin re Whitby Piers – 27 Sept 2017

Truth or Spin? Last Friday’s Whitby Gazette included an article entitled ‘Piers tests ahead of repairs. Restoration set for next year.’ Scarborough Borough Councillor Cockerill portrayed the load testing on Whitby Piers as some sort of major step forward. In fact, these tests are a preliminary and precautionary measure that any responsible contractor would carry […]

Fifth Response to Freedom of Information Request re ‘potentially fatal’ defects – Sept 2017

The fifth FOI Response to the 16 original questions asked in the Open Letter. Scarborough Borough Council didn’t answer them but you can read it online. SBC’s Response to Fight4Whitby makes interesting reading: FOIA 5192 F4W Request: The Royal Haskoning 2009 Report on Whitby Harbour lists defects to ladders and wire rope railings on both the Piers […]

Fourth Response from SBC re horizontal cores in Pier Extensions toes – 13 Sept 2017

Our fourth Request to Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) under the Freedom of Information Act was about the state of the ‘toes’ of the two Extensions to Whitby Piers: F4W Request: Royal Haskoning recommended [2008] that horizontal cores be taken into the 2 toes of the Pier Extensions, in order to gain a better understanding of the […]

Third response to FOI request re Dive Surveys on the extensions – 08 Sept 2017

Our third response from Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) also makes interesting reading: F4W Request: In 2009 the Royal Haskoning Report says that Dive Surveys were conducted in 2008 on the two Whitby Pier Extensions. Please provide the Reports and their dates, of any Dive Surveys conducted on these two Pier Extensions since 2008. SBC Response: […]

Second Response to Freedom of Information Act Request – 17 Aug 2017

Our second FOI Request to Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) about the state of Whitby’s crumbling Piers asked about the delays to the ‘high priority’ defects. Our Request: ‘The 2009 Royal Haskoning report required the work to rectify the ‘high priority’ defects on the two main Whitby Piers to start in 2012 and to be completed by 2014. […]

First response to Freedom of Information Act requests – 8 Aug 2017

The first response from Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) to our questions about Whitby Harbour has been received. Our Open Letter with 16 questions about Whitby Harbour was sent to The Leader of SBC in April 2017, but no actual answers were received. (That Open Letter can be read in full at the top of this […]

Defective steel piling will be repaired – but only on Endeavour Wharf

The defective steel piling at Endeavour Wharf will, at long last, be repaired by Scarborough Borough Council. But  defective steel piling is also a major problem on our two Pier Extensions, where the wave action is much greater. The 680 meter combined perimeter of the foundations to the Extensions is protected from wave scouring by […]

Council ignores the concerns of worried residents

It ignores safety advice from experts. It puts lives and hundreds of homes at risk. You probably think of Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council and the absolute horror of the Grenfell Tower fire. But much closer to home, Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has been doing exactly that for years. It has ignored the worries of […]

The No Confidence in SBC Cabinet vote was defeated by the SBC Cabinet

The No Confidence vote was held recently and the webcam can be viewed on the SBC website. A viewer writes: ‘I watched with appalled fascination, the Scarborough Borough Council meeting held to consider a Vote of No Confidence in the Leader and Cabinet. ‘How is it possible that the Leader and the Cabinet members were each given a ‘special […]

No trust in the leaders of Scarborough Borough Council

How can Whitby trust a council, including our own councillors who represent Whitby, when the following have been allowed to happen: SBC’s financial Annual Accounts for 2015/16 have still not been approved by the government Auditor, with no government process available to ensure this happens, and no procedures have been put in place to ensure […]

‘Thanks for your votes’ says John Freeman

‘Thanks to everyone who cast their vote in my favour in the recent General Election’ says our local artist, John Freeman. He continues: ‘Locally and nationally the voting trend returned to the old two-party system. This made all the more significant, the fact that 680 people took the trouble to turn out and vote for me […]

Another Open Reminder to the Leader of Scarborough Borough Council

Another Open Reminder should not be necessary, but SBC have still not answered, nor even acknowledged, the questions in our Open Letter. It was sent to them on 3rd April 2017 and today is the 14th June 2017 – a full TWO MONTHS later and STILL no substantive reply. You can read our Open Letter with its 17 Questions about the […]

Thank-you to all our voters – but there is more to do!

A big thank-you to the many hundreds who voted for John Freeman at the General Election last Thursday. Predictably, the two big parties had well over 20,000 votes each, and not one of the 6 lesser candidates got more than 2,000 votes. We DID get lots of lovely publicity for Fight4Whitby, which was our main intention, and we came […]

Vote, vote, vote tomorrow and send SBC a message

Your vote tomorrow could make all the difference. Vote for John Freeman if you want to send Scarborough Borough Council a clear message about how dis-satisfied you feel. John Freeman says: ‘As Chair of Whitby and District Tourism Association, 3 times Mayor of Whitby and co-founder of Fight4Whitby, I have tried my utmost to get SBC […]

John Freeman sends you this message about tomorrow’s vote

John Freeman is standing as an Independent in Thursday’s general election. He says: ‘Good morning everyone! Getting close to Election day now! If you are happy with the way Scarborough Borough Council and our sitting MP have treated you, then feel free to vote on usual party lines . If however, like me, you feel […]

Protest marches and Open Letters ignored by Scarborough Borough Council

Protest marches to Save the Futurist Theatre in Scarborough and Open Letters from both them and Fight4Whitby go ignored by SBC. They are not listening to the Voters of the Scarborough and Whitby constituency, so this election is the ideal opportunity for you to send them a message. Vote for John Freeman on Thursday. Neither […]

‘Enough is Enough where Scarborough Borough Council is concerned’

Had enough? John Freeman says ‘I offer a Protest Vote to all those who are fed-up with the disgraceful way that SBC does not listen to local ratepayers’. That is why he is standing as an Independent candidate at the General Election this Thursday. This Borough depends on Tourism, but Tourist Information Centres have been closed or […]

Hustings held at Whitby Rifle Club last night was a great success

A very successful Hustings took place yesterday, with 6 out of the 8 prospective MPs on the platform to answer questions. About 70 to 80 members of the public attended to hear the candidates take turns to answer all sorts of questions. These were chosen at random from all those submitted beforehand. Some of these can be seen on […]

New video on this website all about Whitby Harbour and SBC

A new video has been added to the Home Page of this Fight4Whitby website. ‘Talking to Scarborough Borough Council is like talking to that brick wall’ says John Freeman. There then follows a short tour of Whitby Harbour, looking at the crumbling piers, the recently added clutter and the problems for the boats. Enjoy watching this […]

‘Local voters MUST be able to hold SBC to account’ says John Freeman

Local resident John Freeman explains why he is standing for MP in this general election: I am a peaceable 75 year old, who loves Whitby and this area, and wants it to thrive. As Chairman of Whitby and District Tourism Association, I have worked to support my local community and was very proud to serve […]

Your vote could make all the difference in this General Election

You may think how you vote – or whether you vote at all – will make no difference. But it COULD. The Scarborough and Whitby constituency is a safe seat, but you could change all that. Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) is not listening to local voters. Whether it is about closing our Tourist Information Centres and public […]

General Election gives locals the chance to make SBC listen

Election time and John Freeman (Independent) is demanding the reform of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC). Yes, this IS asking for your protest vote! Your vote for John Freeman for MP could make all the difference. What happened to open, transparent and accountable local councils and services? Why do Whitby Piers still need £8m of long overdue […]

General Election and John Freeman (Independent) is standing

The General Election has livened-up the debate about Fight4Whitby and its aims! John Freeman, who has lived locally for many decades, is also our Spokesman for Fight4Whitby. He is standing for parliament as an Independent candidate, since the snap election left too little time to be sure of registering a brand new political party before the […]

What risks are facing the people of Whitby?

The risks facing the people of Whitby.  Both the main piers and the pier extensions are riddled with defects. However, information in reports compiled by Royal Haskoning provides an insight into the seriousness of the problems with the Piers: Main Piers The stone walls and the stone slab / concrete decking of the Main Piers […]

Public Safety and Staff Safety should be paramount

Safety matters.   The 2009 Royal Haskoning report highlighted that immediate repairs were required to the metal ladders on the East Pier Extension, which had missing rungs and “corrosion to an unsafe level.” Similarly ladders on the Main Piers were condemned because of rotten timbers and loose fittings. Repairs were also required within 5 years to […]

Monitoring of Whitby’s crumbling piers is all important

Monitoring the Condition of the Pier Extensions. SBC’s engineering consultant, Royal Haskoning, recommended in 2009 that rectification of the High Priority defects on the pier extensions (void filling and new scour protection works) should begin in April 2011. This did not happen. Following the emergency repairs to the huge void on the landward end of […]

Open Reminder to The Leader of Scarborough Borough Council

This Open Reminder should not be necessary, but SBC have still not answered the questions in our Open Letter. It was sent to them on 3rd April 2017 and today is the 4th May 2017 – a full month later and still no reply. Every local authority has Service Standards, which include ‘a prompt response’ […]

Majority funding accepted by SBC in 2014

Funding for the repairs to Whitby Main Piers. Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) adopted the Whitby Coastal Strategy 2 in July 2012, in the full knowledge that the Whitby Piers project would not be eligible for 100% grant funding and that “SBC as the major beneficiary will be required to contribute £3.7m towards the design and […]

Risk of damage and loss might cost £129 million if piers & extensions fail

Risk Assessment.  The Whitby Coastal Strategy 2, adopted by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) in 2012, recognised the critical importance of the Whitby Harbour structures to the overall flood and coastal defence system across the wider Strategy frontage, as well as directly to the harbour itself. A recent SBC report (17/71. 23 Mar 2017) stated that […]

Repairs to Whitby Piers delayed again and again and again

Repairs to the East and West Main Piers Over the years, the scheduled date for starting the work has been pushed even further into the future. The most recent postponement now contemplates starting the work in 2019/20 – some 17 years after SBC were first warned that the Piers could have a life expectancy of […]

Open Letter to the Leader, Scarborough Borough Council

This Open Letter was sent by Fight4Whitby to the Leader of Scarborough Borough Council and the media on 3rd April 2017: WHITBY MAIN PIERS AND PIER EXTENSIONS The Highpoint-Rendel report in 2002 concluded that the main Whitby Piers had a residual life of less than 10 years. Since that date, the consequences of a breach or collapse […]

No Money for Pier Repairs in SBC Budget for 2017/18

Scarborough Borough Council has approved its budget for 2017/18 – but there is no planned contribution from SBC towards the urgently-needed repair works to the Whitby piers. Even worse, the approved Financial Strategy 2017-2027 shows the cost of the pier repairs is not expected to be needed until 2019/20. Fight4Whitby has written an open letter to the […]

Even better Quiz Night than last year

Even better than last year’s, the Fight4Whitby Quiz Night last week was a great success. With 15 different Quiz Teams this year, a great time was had by all. Some £400 was raised by the enthusiastic Quizzers, who also enjoyed excellent food prepared by the Eastside Community ladies. Once again, the (non-party political) event was […]

Raise funds for Fight4Whitby with our Quiz Night

Help us raise funds for Fight4Whitby by joining in our Quiz Night next week. Just put together a Team of 4 or 5 people and turn up next Wednesday 5th April 2017. There will also be a Raffle, with some great prizes. The event will be held at the Conservative Club at the end of […]

County Council to chip in to Piers repairs

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has said it will contribute to repairing our failing piers. Just how much the county might give has not yet been decided. The total cost will only be known once the recent survey results have been analysed. A spokesman said the piers protect many assets belonging to NYCC, like the roads and the […]

Confidence in engineers’ report but No Confidence in SBC Cabinet

The Portfolio Holder for Harbours on Scarborough Borough Council’s Cabinet says he has ‘every confidence in their engineers and consultants’ as regards Whitby’s neglected piers. Good, because so do I. But I have absolutely No Confidence in the SBC’s Cabinet’s failure to provide money for any of the engineers’ High Priority recommendations. In 2009 Royal Haskoning, […]

Local Editor raps SBC for their response to Whitby’s pier repairs

The Editor of the Whitby Gazette has criticised Scarborough Borough Council for their response to repairing Whitby’s piers and extensions. In last week’s Editorial Comment column, the editor writes: ‘The Borough Council seems content to conclude that repairs to Whitby’s piers can wait another year. ‘Technically, it might be right – it requires structural engineers to make […]

Piers webcam lets YOU see the storms for yourself

A webcam allows everyone to be a Storm Watcher and see for themselves the huge waves which can break over Whitby Piers. Last weekend was the perfect example, with another 2 days of strong winds sending massive waves to pound our neglected piers. These winds were from the North East, blowing across the North Sea towards the Yorkshire […]

Many unanswered questions remain about Whitby piers

There are many unanswered questions about the planned works on Whitby’s crumbling piers and extensions. Work on Phase 1 is hoped to start in Spring 2018, Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has announced. The contractors will be civil engineers Balfour Beatty, who will start with yet another survey of the piers. This will be needed to assess any additional storm damage […]

Storm Surge hits Whitby on Friday 13th

Whitby was hit by yet another Storm Surge on Fri 13th January. Many parts of the town were awash again, with huge waves overtopping the crumbling piers and their extensions. Advance warning had been given by the Environment Agency and temporary barriers had been put in place. Some of these barriers were just washed aside […]

A New Year Resolution for you and one for us at Fight4Whitby

A good Resolution is always good for Whitby. It was the name of one of Captain Cook’s ships, but your New Year Resolution could be to help us protect Whitby Harbour. If you donate to Fight4Whitby, we will be able to continue challenging Scarborough Borough Council’s administration of Whitby Harbour. We need to raise funds to pay […]

Lots of Objections to SBC’s Change of Use application for our Tourist Information Centre

There were lots and lots of Objections from a very wide range of people and organisations. These were are all lodged safely before the deadline and now published on the Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) Planning website. How very embarrassing for them! There was even an official Objection from the Chairman of Whitby Civic Society. This listed the […]

Last chance to Object to SBC’s application for TIC Change of Use

Don’t miss your last chance to let SBC know that you OBJECT to their planned Change of Use from TIC to café and ice cream parlour. The 21 days to Object runs out in a couple of days, on 22 December. They have already received several Objections from a wide range of people, but many, many more […]

Object NOW to Change of Use application for Whitby Tourist Information Centre

You can ‘Object’ NOW to Scarborough Borough Council’s plan to turn our TIC into a restaurant and ice cream parlour. Under Planning Law SBC must apply to SBC (!) for a ‘Change of Use’ for the building, so this is your chance to ‘Object’ to their plans to downgrade our TIC. Their Change of Use application was made at […]

TV payment WILL now go to the ‘Whitby Piers’ Fund says Scarborough Borough Council

The payment from the ‘Grand Tour’ filming in Whitby Harbour will now go towards repairing Whitby piers. This is largely thanks to the pressure put on SBC by the Fight4Whitby campaign. After a long wait, SBC have finally issued a response to everyone who asked about the payment from Amazon TV for filming in Whitby Harbour. […]

Fight4Whitby at Winterfest in Whitby Pavilion this weekend

Whitby Winterfest opens this Friday evening with a parade from Pannett Park to the Pavilion on Whitby’s West Cliff. Winterfest runs all weekend, from 10am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday, and it demonstrates the Power of Community at Christmas. It is organised by We Are Whitby. An opening performance by local lad Alistair Griffin, of […]

ITV News video now on this website, Facebook and Twitter

The video clip of the ITV News item on Whitby’s neglected piers is now widely available online. It shows the triangular slump of more than 4 courses of the giant stones which comprise the piers. We rely on our ancient piers to keep the North Sea waves at bay. Without them, huge waves would run up the […]

TV News features problems in Whitby Harbour

Regional TV News broadcast a feature on Whitby Harbour yesterday (link below). Reporter Kris Jepson was aboard Whitby’s retired lifeboat, the ‘Mary Ann Hepworth’ to see the cracks, slumps and voids in the ancient stonework of our piers. Skipper Barry Sneddon was able to bring the TV team up close with the neglected sea defences. Later there […]

ITV News item will now be on Friday

The News item on Whitby harbour will now be on Friday 18 Nov. ITV now plans to show the Whitby harbour item on regional Tyne Tees, Calendar News and possibly even the national News at Ten this Friday. This is a day later than they originally planned. Please spread the word!

ITV News item on Whitby Harbour

ITV News cameras were in Whitby yesterday, filming the problems of our harbour. They plan to show their report tomorrow Wed 16th or Thursday 17th Nov 2016 on the early and late regional news programme ITV News Tyne Tees. It may also appear on the ITV Evening News at 10pm, as well as ITV Calendar News for Yorkshire […]

Good Goth, what is happening to Whitby?

Whitby Goth Weekend is now in full swing and the town is packed. ‘No Vacancy’ signs are up at most B&Bs and the ever-welcome Goths (and their admirers) are having to book accommodation in the surrounding villages as well. This is one of our busiest weekends of the year and it helps to extend the season well into November, […]

Dredging Whitby harbour for the whole story

Dredging used to be a full time job in Whitby harbour. Sea sand is brought in on every tide, with a smaller volume of silt washed down by the River Esk. Whitby used to have its very own dredger, with an excavator on one end, digging out the sand bars and keeping the harbour at […]

‘No place like Whitby’ says Jeremy Clarkson

‘There is no place quite like Whitby’ according to Jeremy Clarkson, as reported in this week’s Whitby Gazette. Filming in Whitby for the new Amazon TV show was completed last Thursday and Friday, and the big ‘Grand Tour’ studio marquee on Endeavour Wharf has now been dismantled. The stars of the show sang the praises of Whitby and its surroundings, describing […]

Jeremy Clarkson in the Whitby he loves

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are in Whitby this week to film The Grand Tour, their new motoring show on Amazon. The Grand Tour includes shows from South Africa, California and… not London, not the Lake District, not Stow-on-the-Wold, not The Dales… but WHITBY! Whitby, they decided, gives a view which best encapsulates everything which represents ‘England’ […]

Grand tour de force demonstration to save Whitby TIC

As the Grand Tour marquee was being constructed beside Whitby’s ex-Tourist Information Centre (xTIC), a large crowd gathered at the Dock End last Saturday to listen to speeches about what Scarborough Borough Council is doing with our poor, neglected harbour. Not to mention down-grading our superb TIC. Speakers included the local artist and three-times Mayor of Whitby, […]

Protest demo this Saturday noon at the Dock End

Protest with us about the closure of Whitby’s perfect Tourist Information Centre at the Dock End this Saturday at noon. You may wonder, as we do, why Scarborough Borough Council would deny 450,000 visitors / year to Whitby TIC the chance to find out more about Whitby and district. You may think SBC are asset-stripping Whitby […]

TIC Demo delayed 1 week

Our Demo against the closure of our purpose-built and ideally-situated Tourist Information Centre has been delayed by a week, thanks to Scarborough Borough Council delays in moving out. We will now meet at 12 noon on Sat 8th Oct 2016 at the old TIC on Dock End, to demonstrate just how much we all disagree […]

Map of Whitby Harbour???

A map showing the statutory boundary and owned assets of Whitby Harbour was requested, under the Freedom of Information Act, from Scarborough Borough Council several weeks ago. On 14 September SBC replied: Request: A map or maps in PDF format (at a scale not greater than 1:2500) showing the current boundary of the area under […]

Piers seem less important

Whitby’s piers seem to be less important than the new waterpark in Scarborough town, says John Freeman, a recent Mayor of Whitby. In an article published  in last week’s Whitby Gazette, John was responding to comments made by Scarborough Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Harbours. Ex-Mayor John said ‘If Scarborough Borough Council had done as it should have, by using […]

Social media spreads the word

Social media including Facebook and Twitter has been spreading the word even wider than our regional BBC TV News. Since the Fight4Whitby story appeared on TV it has had more than 77,000 Views on Facebook! There have been well over 500 Shares and more than 100 supportive Comments. A similar story can be told about Twitter, so our […]

BBC Look North regional TV News report

Our local BBC News team came to film the state of Whitby’s piers last week. Their report was shown throughout the North East and Cumbria region over the Bank Holiday weekend. Fight4Whitby organised a local boat to take the BBC cameraman out of the harbour mouth and around the outside of the West Pier. From water-level it […]

Fighting for Whitby

We are fighting for just five things: All income from Whitby Harbour to be re-invested in the maintenance and improvement of Whitby’s neglected harbour and piers. Urgent repairs and improvements to the piers, to safeguard 500 homes and businesses and much of the town against increased flood risks. A lively, working, historic harbour that welcomes traditional […]

If you love Whitby

If you love Whitby as much as we do, please donate to our local campaign. Our Community Group ‘Fight4Whitby’ is challenging Scarborough Borough Council’s administration of Whitby Harbour. Scarborough Borough Council is the Statutory Harbour Authority. It is responsible for the maintenance, improvement and management of Whitby Port and Harbour. We need to raise funds to […]

Income from Whitby Harbour

Income from the car parks on Whitby harbour land is not identified separately in the Scarborough Borough Council  published accounts. The most recent budget figures show £958,020 Income for the Marina Car Parks in 2015/16 and the Surplus was £891,314. The figures for the year before (2014/15) are broadly similar. We believe that SBC has […]

Whitby Harbour Act

The Whitby Harbour Act of 1827 and of 1879 are the basis of the powers and duties which apply to the management of Whitby Harbour. These were added to by the Whitby Urban District Council Act 0f 1905 and the national 1964 Harbour Act. Scarborough Borough Council is the ‘Statutory Harbour Authority’ for the Port and […]

500 homes and businesses at risk

Some 500 homes and businesses in Whitby would be at higher risk of flooding or coastal erosion unless there is major capital investment. This was the estimation of a more detailed Report in 2009, which also endorsed the findings of the 2002 Report. The ‘major capital investment’ is needed to improve the condition of our piers. […]

Piers need repairs

Whitby piers, quays and sea defences urgently need proper maintenance. This is essential for the benefit of harbour users. It would also safeguard large areas of the town against flooding. Our historic harbour lies at the very heart of Whitby and forms a key visitor attraction. The Whitby Coastal Strategy was produced for Scarborough Borough Council in […]

Busy backstage but not yet public

You may think that things have gone quiet, but we are very busy backstage… Sometimes it is best to keep a bit quiet while the next step is being carefully prepared behind the scenes… Could this be the ‘calm before the storm’..? The Fight4Whitby Battle Song competition is well under way… Another Quiz Night fundraiser is being […]

Dream team winners

Pat’s People were the winning team of last night’s fund-raising quiz, which raised several hundred pounds. There was a great turnout, with 9 teams of 4 or 5 members, as well as many supporters. After the first 3 rounds it was time for a break, another drink and a bite of supper. Then on with another 2 […]

Enter our Quiz tomorrow

Come and enter our fund-raising contest tomorrow evening. We are looking for the best Quiz Team of 4 or 5 members. Quiz entry is £5 per person and includes a pie and peas supper. We hope to have a good turnout, a really enjoyable evening AND raise lots of money for Fight4Whitby. Full details are on our Events page for […]

Top story in Whitby Gazette

‘We want our money back’ is the top front page headline of the Whitby Gazette, our local weekly newspaper. The reporter goes on to outline the background to the Fight4Whitby campaign. There is even a quote from John Freeman of Fight4Whitby. Fight4Whitby is delighted to make the top story in our local newspaper. The campaign is raising […]

Legal battle begins

Legal letters about Whitby harbour and its Tourist Information Centre have now been exchanged. Whitby and District Tourism Association (WDTA) has retained a Barrister who specialises in Marine Law and Harbours. Their opening letter to the Legal Department of Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has now been acknowledged. Let the legal battle begin! To pay for the legal costs of this battle, WDTA […]

Whitby is 5th Most Popular UK Destination

Popular Staycations A recent poll in the national press rates Whitby as the Top 5 most popular place to stay in the UK. This just confirms what we all suspected, that Whitby is one of the best places in the country, if not the world! At the very top of the list was Edinburgh, followed by London, Bournemouth, Manchester […]

News Release 07 May 2016 – Campaign Launch

News Release 07 May 2016 – Campaign Launch A group of local Whitby residents and business people have launched a campaign to Fight4Whitby against the proposed closure of the Whitby Tourist Information Centre and inadequate maintenance of the town’s historic piers and harbour. Around half a million visitors use the Whitby Tourist Information Centre (TIC) […]

Whitby & District Tourism Association kick-start ‘Fight 4 Whitby’ Fund

WDTA has put £5,000 into a fighting fund to take legal action over the whole management of Whitby harbour – including making sure that Whitby TIC remains exactly where it is and continues to provide a full and professional welcome to our visitors.