Plans to expand and resurface a part of the Cinder Track have been delayed after Scarborough and Whitby councillors raised ‘serious concerns’ about accessibility.
A plan to resurface and widen a 2.3km stretch of the Cinder Track has been deferred by councillors who said the plans did not appear to properly take into account disabled access.
The stretch of track between Burniston and Cloughton is also set to receive new benches, picnic tables, way finders at entry points, and bins.
But councillors on the Scarborough and Whitby area planning committee noted that some of the entry points seemed to only have steps and “are no good for disabled access”.
A planning report presented to the committee made no mention of disabled access and planning officers said they did not have any additional information.
Coun Clive Pearson said:
“Obviously this is going to be quite an expensive project, so have any arrangements been made for disabled access, because what we see here are steps, which aren’t any good for disabled access.
“They’re also very dangerous for equine access, so will all those things be sorted out?
A council planning officer told the meeting, which was held last Thursday (April 11):
“I don’t really have an answer to that.
“All I could say is that the resurfacing would make it more accessible for all users.”
A £700,000 grant from Sustrans is to fund the upgrades to the Cinder Track which currently runs between Scarborough and Whitby.
In recent years, the former railway track has faced several challenges, including limited accessibility and durability issues with its current surface, according to the council.
The chair of the committee, Coun Phil Trumper, said:
“I think accessibility is key for everybody. A lot of money will be spent on this and we need to make sure everyone can use it. ”
Coun Heather Phillips added:
“It is possibly one of the worst places to access, you have to go across the road, through a very narrow section, over a small bridge, and down some steps.
“I don’t know how you’re going to deal with that but I’m 100 per cent behind accessibility because we have to build for all of our local residents.
“A pushchair you can maybe get down two or three steps, but I don’t know too many horses or motorised scooters that could manage that.”
Another council officer said they could “not provide the information regarding wheelchair accessibility”.
He added:
“Members can defer the decision and we can try and find out whether issues such as wheelchair accessibility have been addressed.
“I suspect they have but just have not been presented as part of the application.”
Councillors voted unanimously to defer the plan until they received more information about how accessibility would be taken into account.
Investigation Confirms Human Activity Caused Devastating Fylingdales Moor Wildfire
MP Calls for Wild Camping Ban After Cause of Fylingdales Moor Blaze Revealed
Investment Boost for Whitby’s Woodsmith Mine Welcomed by Local MP
Yorkshire Coast MP Welcomes Local Renewable Energy Projects
Investigation Concludes Campfire as Likely Cause of Fylingdales Moor Wildfire
Finances at Scarborough Hospital ‘Very Challenging’
Scarborough Phone Box up for Adoption
£100,000 Coastal Erosion Plan Near Scarborough Sea Life Centre
Whitby RNLI Issue Advice for Walkers After Mud Rescue
United Scarborough to Launch Grassroots Surveys to Capture the True Voice of the Town
Hopes Rise for Eastfield Medical Centre Reopening Following Flood Chaos
Safety Closures and Redevelopment Work for Scarborough Cricket Club Ahead of 2026 Season
Comments
Add a comment