A £250,000 plan is being mooted to improve parking at a much-loved North Yorkshire landmark.
The plans for Whitby Abbey have been submitted to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s High Street Fund for cash to expand the overflow car park at Whitby Abbey Headland and create a second permanent park and ride for Whitby.
If the funding is granted, cellular paving – which is commonly recycled, porous plastic slabs which interlock together – would be installed into the overflow car park at Whitby Abbey Headland, so that it can be used after stormy and rainy periods and does not become unusable due to boggy conditions.
North Yorkshire Council said that its long-term ambition is to create a second permanent park and ride for Whitby.
The authority’s parking policy notes that “parking will be managed so as to support the vitality and attractiveness of town centres, recognising parking arrangements are key to trade”.
Regeneration and localities officers have reviewed evidence and carried out community consultation in Whitby, according to a council report.
The consultation responses highlighted parking and traffic management as key investment priorities for the town: “Officers worked with stakeholders and relevant council services to develop a project proposal for Whitby Abbey Head Parking to address this need.”
The total project value is £250,000, which would be fully covered by the Local Authority High Street Fund.
“The asset will be transferred to parking services on completion, which will be responsible for future maintenance and revenue liabilities. These are expected to be covered by parking revenue generated in Whitby,” the report states.
The Local Authority High Street Fund was set up to support projects emerging from the Town Investment Plans programme by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA).
The report adds: “As part of YNYCA’s commitment to the programme, a fund has been created to support capital projects emerging from the TIP programme.”
