Tory MP urges reassurances on sea defences

The need to improve the resort’s crumbling sea walls has remained a contentious issue since a coastal defence strategy was adopted six years ago amid warnings a major landslide could destroy hundreds of homes and businesses.

The MP for Scarborough and Whitby, Robert Goodwill, is pressing the Tory administration of Scarborough Borough Council to respond to public fears about the plans to install “rock armour” in front of the historic Spa building.

Mr Goodwill is asking council officers to reconsider upgrading the existing sea wall dating from the Victorian era – rather than putting boulders in front of the Grade II listed building.

He has already rebuked an environmental group, The Sons of Neptune, for circulating “scare stories” about the rock armour attracting a plague of rats. But he has underlined that the group’s concerns about the new defences becoming an eyesore are widely shared.

Mr Goodwill said: “I know there is tremendous affection for the Spa building and therefore any work done to secure the building would be popular -and indeed vital – to maintain Scarborough as a conference venue.

“The basis of many people’s views is that the sea wall has stood the test of time for many years and therefore if it was repaired to the standard it was originally built at – or if additional piling was put in place behind the wall - surely that would be sufficient.

“This issue will need to be managed carefully to both ensure we get vital work done to safeguard the future of The Spa but at the same time make absolutely certain that the visual impact of the work is minimalised.”

An initial £22m stepped concrete revetment with a wave wall was shelved in favour of the rock armour option. If a landslide did happen, it is likely the sea wall would be overrun and destroyed completely – a scenario which was played out during the notorious Holbeck Hall landslip in 1993.

The Sons of Neptune’s leader, Freddie Drabble, said: “He (Mr Goodwill) seems to see the environmental and economic consequences of going ahead with an option so destructive. You could not have a more famous or beautiful scene.

“He has seen what there is to lose – a scene enjoyed by and beloved of – the Brontës themselves. People come to this town for its scenic beauty and heritage – and The Spa waters is where Scarborough began.

“Mr Goodwill has taken it fully on board and feels, as we do, there is another option – simply to reinforce the wall where necessary.”

Mr Drabble claimed residents are proud of the town’s heritage, and added: “They also know dumping a heap of rubble on the beach is going to make people have second thoughts about why they are bothering to come.”

But the borough council has claimed lives will be endangered and hundreds of homes put at risk if nothing is done. The seawall around the Spa dates from the 1840s and is on a steep slope with a history of ground movement.

A council spokesman added: “Under the ‘do nothing’ scenario coastal erosion would resume following either failure of the sea wall or triggering a large scale landslide. As the Spa complex is a popular entertainment and conference venue and frequently has many visitors, the consequences of a landslide could be fatal.

“Once active coastal erosion of the toe of the cliff has resumed, continuing cliff-top recession will result in the loss of 380 households and 38 commercial properties within 100 years, along with services and loss of tourism.”

The proposals are still at the outline design stage and a business case is being prepared, with the planning process and a formal public consultation not expected to start until next year.