Anttoni James Numminen

North Yorkshire Council will demolish the unstable Royal Parade building in Filey, which housed a fish-and-chip shop, café, ice cream outlet and retail unit. Structural inspections found serious defects, large cracks, displaced walls and a risk of collapse, making unrestricted public access unsafe. Councillors approved demolition by two votes to one abstention, although local representative Sam Cross opposed proceeding without firmer plans for a replacement building. The closure has already affected local businesses and resulted in the loss of eight staff jobs.

The Scarborough and Whitby Area Planning Committee unanimously deferred North Yorkshire Council's plans to redevelop Scarborough Station's forecourt and surrounding public realm. Councillors said the revised scheme offered fewer benefits than previously proposed, remained too vehicle-dominated and lacked dedicated public drop-off facilities. They also raised concerns about accessibility for passengers with luggage, pushchairs and mobility impairments, as well as possible conflicts between pedestrians, buses, taxis and other vehicles. The council defended the proposals as improving accessibility, the station environment and wider town-centre regeneration, but must now address the committee's concerns.

Marisco Lounge, a restaurant and café on Scarborough’s South Bay, has applied to North Yorkshire Council for permission to place tables and chairs outside its premises at 11–12 Sandside. The application by Loungers UK Ltd is for outdoor food and drink service, and members of the public can submit representations to the council by August 31. The business previously applied for a pavement licence in 2024.

North Yorkshire Council plans to demolish the unstable Royal Parade building on Filey seafront, which contains fish-and-chip, café, ice cream and retail units, as well as a public toilet. A structural survey found considerable damage and a risk of structural failure. The site would be levelled, although no redevelopment proposal has yet been submitted. Council planners said demolition would improve the appearance of the area and create an opportunity for sympathetic future redevelopment. The site also includes a Yorkshire Water pumping station, whose possible relocation is not part of the current application.

North Yorkshire Council cannot say how many library users have been banned, how many fines have been paid, or the total value of payments because of inconsistent record-keeping and the loss of access to its previous library management system. An FOI response found that more than 99,000 individual fines were issued to 22,423 borrowers in the reported period, while receipts were linked to 40,566 fines after the system change, though the council warned this might be incomplete. Library services chief Hazel Smith defended the service’s growing membership and reminder systems, noting that fines remain a source of funding for council-run and community-managed libraries. The report contrasts this policy with Explore York Libraries and Archives, which abolished late fees to reduce barriers for vulnerable and lower-income users.

Retail crime in Scarborough has risen by 27%, despite an 11% reduction across North Yorkshire over the past year. Councillors questioned whether enough is being done to address the coastal town’s problems. Deputy mayor Jo Coles said North Yorkshire Police was treating retail crime seriously, while acknowledging that county-wide improvements were not being felt everywhere. The police have launched Operation Sun, increasing high-visibility patrols to tackle seasonal shop theft, street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

North Yorkshire Green leader Kevin Foster says government plans to prioritise job creation in public contracts must not weaken environmental targets. He argues that investment in domestic green manufacturing, including solar-panel production, could create skilled jobs while improving energy security and reducing emissions. The plans, which will assess companies on employment quality, local skills shortages and opportunities for young people, are welcomed by Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume and Labour representatives. Greenpeace UK warns that environmental standards should remain mandatory because climate protection and good employment can be mutually beneficial.

The Treasury in Whitby has applied to reinstate outdoor seating outside its Grade II-listed premises, proposing 10 tables for 33 people and six olive trees, operating from 8am to 10.30pm daily. Five residents objected over pedestrian safety, public seating and possible late-night nuisance, while 20 supported the plan as beneficial to the local business and town centre. The applicant says the seating operated successfully during a trial and that the required 1.5-metre pedestrian footway has been maintained. North Yorkshire Council’s licensing sub-committee is due to consider the application at Scarborough Town Hall.

North Yorkshire Council has approved a roughly £119,000 strategy to manage urban gulls in Scarborough, Whitby and Filey. The plan includes education campaigns, gull-proof rubbish bags, improved and retrofitted litter bins, cleaning and jet-washing, targeted proofing, monitoring and planning. Councillors also want a pilot for separate food-waste collections in coastal areas, while council officers stress that the measures must support coexistence with protected birds. Previous netting and spike installations were described as unsuccessful.

North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor Jo Coles has acknowledged concerns in Scarborough about the effects of HMO conversions and emergency accommodation on neighbouring residents. Councillors and residents report disturbances, frequent police call-outs and unclear accountability between accommodation providers, agencies and public bodies. Coles said police responses would continue to be based on threat, risk and harm, while accommodation decisions remain the council’s responsibility. She proposed convening housing partners, commissioned service providers and councillors to examine support for vulnerable residents, including access to drug and alcohol services, and improve conditions for all Scarborough residents.

A project to install interpretation boards in Scarborough is progressing to commemorate the town’s role in signals intelligence during the two world wars and the Cold War. The Sandybed Lane site, established by the Royal Navy in 1912 and later relocated to Irton Moor, is believed to be the world’s longest continuously serving signals-intelligence site. Scarborough Town Council is due to consider funding the boards, which are supported by the National Signals Intelligence and Security Trust and BAE Systems; the trust is expected to own and maintain them.

A five-bedroom house at 12 Gap Road in Filey, North Yorkshire, has been approved for conversion into a single-unit short-term holiday let operating for about 42 weeks a year and managed by Sykes. Council planners were concerned that guests using the rear garden and hot tub could create noise and disturb neighbours, but concluded that controls, occupancy management, noise measures and a strict no-party policy would mitigate the impact. Filey Town Council and the Highway Authority raised no objections, and the application was approved subject to conditions.

North Yorkshire Council will replace Whitby’s deteriorating Whale Bone Arch with a £70,000 bronze replica. The existing structure, installed in 2002, will be removed in September, with the new arch expected to be installed early next year. Bronze was selected for its durability, longevity and resistance to the exposed conditions on West Cliff, while replicating the current arch’s appearance and scale. The existing bones will be donated to the University of York for research, with part displayed at Whitby Museum.

Scarborough Town Council voted to abandon plans for a beach toy library after councillors and staff identified unresolved legal, insurance, safety and practical problems. Concerns included liability for injuries, the use of North Yorkshire Council-owned land and whether toys would be returned rather than becoming litter. Proposal originator Rich Maw argued that the scheme could encourage reuse and reduce plastic waste, while William Stuart said improving overall beach cleanliness should take priority.

Woodlands Crematorium in Scarborough generates more than £1 million a year in income for North Yorkshire Council from around 1,000 to 1,100 cremations. The council records an estimated annual net surplus of about £800,000, but its gas-powered cremators, installed in 2004, are becoming costly and difficult to maintain. The authority plans to invest £2.5 million in like-for-like replacements, which could accommodate larger coffins, increase annual income by about £9,000 and reduce gas consumption by an estimated 25 percent while supporting its 2030 net-zero target.

North Yorkshire Council is expected to approve a £2.5 million upgrade replacing the two gas cremators at Woodlands Crematorium in Scarborough, which were installed in 2004. The new gas cremators are expected to reduce gas consumption by 25%, accommodate larger coffins and increase cremation capacity, while avoiding the operational disruption associated with installation of electric or hybrid systems. The council says the investment is needed after more than £150,000 in recent servicing and call-out costs, and that the replacement will help cut emissions and improve air quality. Work is scheduled for next summer, following approval at a council meeting in August.

GMB coastguard members have expressed no confidence in the leadership of Maritime and Coastguard Agency chief executive Virginia McVea and called for an independent review of concerns about staff engagement, transparency, morale and operational resilience. The move follows the MCA's decision to abandon a controversial plan to remove hourly payments for coastguards attending incidents and training. Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume also urged McVea to reconsider her position, warning that the original proposal could have weakened the emergency service. Coastguard representatives say reduced remuneration could lead to fewer volunteers and increased risks to public safety.

Parents are being urged to discuss water safety with children ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day. England recorded 2,306 water-related fatalities between 2019 and 2023, with men accounting for 80% and risks increasing during summer and periods of extreme heat. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution advises people to use supervised swimming locations, remember the “float to live” technique, and follow “phone, float, throw” when helping someone in difficulty. Water Safety England has launched its first national drowning-prevention strategy, while experts are calling for stronger central-government coordination, dedicated funding and a named department responsible for prevention.

Coventry University Scarborough and St Cecilia’s Care Group have launched a pilot programme to provide registered nurses in Scarborough and surrounding areas with professional development opportunities. Workshops will cover areas including end-of-life care, dementia, wound care, catheterisation and practice assessor training, with continuing professional development recognition to support regulatory revalidation. The initiative aims to address social care workforce shortages, improve staff retention, expand student nurse placements and strengthen links between higher education and care providers. If successful, the programme could be extended across North Yorkshire’s social care sector.

Aldi continues working with North Yorkshire Council on its £7 million supermarket proposal in Eastfield, Scarborough, with demolition at the site expected to conclude in July. After an initial rejection of its demolition notification, subsequent guidance from planning officers confirmed that prior approval was not required, allowing demolition to proceed. Aldi says it remains engaged with the planning process as the council moves toward determining the application.

Repair works to the Funland and Fun City amusement buildings on Pier Road in Whitby received retrospective approval from North Yorkshire Council despite concerns about the use of uPVC tiles instead of traditional clay pantiles. Planning officers determined that limited visibility of the roof and its neutral effect on the conservation area made the changes acceptable. The site is near a Grade II–listed property, but the development was judged not to harm the area’s character, and approval was granted with conditions.

Scarborough Group International stated that its plan to redevelop the former Brunswick Centre into a cinema and leisure complex is progressing despite rumours to the contrary. The company confirmed that £3.5 million from the Government’s Pride in Place programme has been committed, pending due diligence, and that it is seeking further support through North Yorkshire Council and the Mayoral Development Zone. Both the company and the council denied any discussions about the council taking over the project, with funding release dependent on updated business cases and confirmation of matching investment.

Nigel Farage has been appointed Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, a procedural device used to allow MPs to resign from the House of Commons. The appointment automatically disqualifies him as an MP and triggers a by-election in Clacton scheduled for August 13, which major Westminster parties are boycotting. Local councillor Tom Seston highlighted the historical significance of the role and its symbolic use in enabling parliamentary resignations.

Heatwaves have strained coastal services in North Yorkshire, prompting warnings from the council about pressures on street cleansing, waste collection and public conveniences. Officials highlighted effective team responses and the need to prepare for future periods of high demand. Residents were urged to watch out for vulnerable people and take care around open water due to hidden risks. Rising temperatures were noted to increase health risks, particularly for older people, children and those with existing health conditions.

A proposal has been submitted to build a 50‑metre poultry building at Cansdale Farm in Hunmanby to rehouse 20,000 chickens by redistributing existing stock and reducing stocking density in line with the Better Chicken Commitment welfare standards. The project aims to improve welfare without increasing total bird numbers and includes modern ventilation, heating and automated controls. The applicant states the changes will not raise emissions or traffic levels. North Yorkshire Council will decide the application, which is open for public comment.

A proposed change by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to reclassify coastguard rescue officers as volunteers and end hourly pay is expected to force more than half of coastguards in Yorkshire and Humberside to reduce their hours or quit, according to GMB Union survey data. Local MP Alison Hume is pushing for the plans to be paused and properly consulted on, warning that the cuts undermine a vital emergency service. GMB argues the move threatens the future of the coastguard service, while the MCA has been asked to comment.