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 is set to be approved.

“Whitby Town Council is not happy that the 50cm high wall is replacing a planned flood gate that was previously approved for the area. Subject to no objection being received from Historic England, SBC’s Planning Committee will be recommended to approve the changes to the Grade II Listed structure at its meeting next week.

“The wall would be used to stop flood water coming up a slipway and flooding businesses on Pier Road and Battery Parade. The Town Council wanted SBC, as the applicant, to go back to a plan for a flood gate that was previously intended to be used. The deflector wall is part of a  £7.6 million plan to restore and protect the long-term future of the Grade II listed structures which started in Sept last year.

“A planning application for the change gives the reason behind the switch from a gate to deflector wall. It states ‘During the process of applying for the Listed Building Consent, SBC’s Conservation Officer, Historic England and Members of SBC (including Councillors) proposed a number of alternative options to the flood gate at Battery Parade, the aim of which was to minimise impact on the West Pier and provide operational benefits in comparison to the flood gates. SBC has subsequently determined that a deflector wall should be constructed instead of the flood gate.’

The deflector wall is proposed to be made from rectangular sandstone blocks. It will be approx. 55cm high, with a width of up to 75cm.”

With thanks and acknowledgements to the Whitby Gazette, where this article was published on 5th April 2019.

NB: The plan for this deflector wall was approved by SBC Planning Committee a few days later. This deflector wall should not be confused with work on the new flood wall alongside Church Street, on the other side of the river and in the upper harbour, which is due to start early next month ie June 2019.

As yet, there are no plans to start work on the East and West Pier Extensions, which are in much worse condition than the Piers themselves…

Find out lots more about the ongoing Fight4Whitby and how to help our campaigning work – thank-you.

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