Tourist drive looks beyond big resorts to boost ‘coastal gems’

Plans are being finalised for a coastal campaign which will shine the spotlight on smaller resorts on the southern strip of the North Yorkshire coastline.

Welcome to Yorkshire is planning to showcase destinations including Sandsend, near Whitby, and Filey, which is often seen as the “poor relation” to its more famous cousin, Scarborough.

A spokesman from the tourism body said: “We are drawing together plans for a dedicated coastal campaign which will showcase our famous old seaside towns as well as coastal gems such as Filey, Robin Hoods Bay and Sandsend. We hope to have further details about the initiative later in the year.”

It will provide a further boost to Filey which is gearing up for a bumper season in the picturesque resort.

Coun Mike Cockerill, who represents the town on Scarborough Borough Council, said: “This year Filey is in the Britain in Bloom competition so that’s going to be a tremendous boost.

“The Olympic torch is also coming through the town which we are really pleased about. There’s the Filey Festival from June 23 and a lot of people are expected to come over for that.

“There is an extremely exciting season ahead.”

Last month Scarborough Borough Council took ownership of a striking 12ft statue of a fisherman which is standing tall on Filey’s seafront after it was bought by Scarborough-based philanthropist Maureen Robinson.

The sculpture, High Tide in Short Wellies, has been a huge hit with visitors and is set to be a major draw for the town.

The statue, which is inscribed on its base with a poem marking the decline of the fishing industry, was bought to mark Mrs Robinson’s love of Filey.

It is thought she paid about £43,000 and it is her second donation in a matter of months, after she bought a giant artwork entitled Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers, by the same sculptor, Ray Lonsdale.

It has quickly become a landmark in the North Bay of Scarborough and it sparked outrage when it was vandalised with paint.

Coun Cockerill said: “We are shortly intending to move the fisherman to the other side of Herring Hill. It’s got a far more open vista and there’s a lot less clutter of street furniture. It gives people a better photograph opportunity. It’s going to be put on a slightly raised plinth, which will make it look more like a finished job and then we will look at putting a plaque on it following donations from local residents.”

After a number of businesses closed in the town last year, Coun Cockerill said he was pleased to see new ones opening, as well existing shops being refurbished.

He said: “All these things combined shows Filey is on the up and we are continuing to do all we can to boost the number of visitors to the town. Hopefully it will be our biggest year yet and we will keep our fingers crossed.”

However, Coun Cockerill said more investment was needed.

“No matter where you live, there is always a big brother. Filey looks at Scarborough and thinks “why do they have more money spent there?”

“We still need a lot more money spending in Filey. There are fundamental things that we have wanted doing for a long time and they still need doing.

“One of the biggest things I have been personally involved with for the past 29 years is trying to get an indoor sports and leisure centre for the town.

“What it boils down to is there is little to do for visitors or residents when it’s wet. If there’s an indoor facility they won’t be tempted to go elsewhere.

“But there’s plenty to get your teeth into this year and also what could be better than a stroll along Filey beach or a walk on the Brigg?”