Green light beckons for £5m plans for seafront '˜gateway'

The proposals for Hornsea’s South Promenade aim to create an attractive “gateway” for visitors arriving from Hull and Hornsea Freeport, and include a new cafe and shop in a striking circular building.

The compound where nine commercial shellfishermen keep their boats is being extended and upgraded as is the adjacent leisure compound, where pleasure boats for sea angling and diving are stored, and which is currently full.

Renaissance co-ordinator Felicity Clayton said: “Boats are getting larger, more pots are required. It’s future-proofing for the industry. It is also about having better facilities for the boat users, while maybe one person goes out on their jet skis there is something for the families that come with them.”

The plans also include turning the informal parking area into a 150-space car park for visitors and a 46-space car park for users and changing the layout so visitors are segregated from compound-users.

Ms Clayton added: “Hornsea Inshore Rescue particularly have had problems with people parking in front of their access, delaying them getting out to a rescue. It’s a serious problem but fairly easily fixable by changing the layout.”

East Riding Council will be seeking funding once they have a planning approval and a business case in place.

Depending on funding the scheme could be phased in, with the work on the compounds done first, followed by the cafe.

There have been no objections to the scheme, which is recommended for approval at a meeting at County Hall, Beverley, next Monday. “We worked hard to do a lot of consultation and that’s all been part of the process, doing it in the right order, so nothing is taking anyone by surprise,” she added. “Over 100 people came to public consultation and generally it was really positive.”