‘Bulldozing’ council under fire over resort revamp plan

Ex-councillor Geoff Pickering said “serious questions” had to be asked about how an inquiry began into the redevelopment plans without agreement from key partners, ranging from the Harbour Commissioners to the town council.

Government inspector Sian Worden, who has been assessing the council-led “area action plan” at a hearing, has raised concerns over the deliverability of the proposals, which includes a flagship shopping street extending from a new Tesco at Hilderthorpe Coach Park down to and including the harbour top.

The Commissioners are resisting the proposals, saying the harbour top is essential for operational reasons. Harbourmaster Chris Wright said: “Seeing the marina isn’t going to happen, they can’t have it, because we have nowhere to go.”

In a letter Ms Worden said partners who are “essential to the delivery of the plan are not signed up and its delivery cannot be assured.” This and other concerns meant the “soundness of the plan is seriously at risk.”

Mr Pickering said the council hadn’t listened to objections: “All the people that should have been signed up and working with the council are still saying no, it is not going to work. You have to have serious questions about the process that’s gone through that they have ended up going to inquiry, without getting everyone on board.”

East Riding Council, which is preparing a response to the inspector, declined to comment on the matter.