£8.6m project to save resort's iconic piers

The East and West piers at Whitby are an integral part of the town’s coastal defences and protect the harbour as well as local homes and businesses.

They also play a big role in attracting visitors to the town and are Grade-II listed by English Heritage.

Scarborough Borough Council has been allocated just over £4.8m from the Environment Agency towards the scheme.

And the authority is now in the process of appointing consultants to procure, project manager and supervise the works. The next stage, to commence shortly, will be to engage a contractor to design, cost and build the scheme.

The council’s long-term aim, if all of the necessary funding is secured, is to start the improvement works in July 2017 with a projected completion date of October 2018.

Local cabinet member for coast and flood protection Cllr Mike Cockerill said:

“The piers are key assets for the port of Whitby and the local economy so it is imperative that we look to find the best solutions to improve and maintain them for many years to come.

“Surveys to identify the extent of the problems that need addressing have already been carried out and the information gathered will be used as part of the specification for the works.

“Currently, there are no plans to use rock armour, but this may need to be reconsidered by future generations if further work is found to be necessary in the years to come when the effects of climate change and increased sea levels become more evident.”

The piers have protected Whitby harbour and the town’s harbourside cottages and businesses since 1545, when they were built of timber. They were rebuilt in 1632 using stone. The West pier was rebuilt in 1814.

However their condition is now said to be “critical” with the East pier particularly at risk.

The council has previously carried out emergency improvements works to the town’s east pier in 2011 and 2012 at a cost of £2.2m, funded by the Environment Agency.