February 21, 2007
Race Programme
New provisional race programme is now available on the website along with the courses. Now is your chance to have your say and suggest alterations, because later is too late.
February 19, 2007
Changes to Marina Development
OPPONENTS of Whitby's controversial £2.8m harbour development have expressed outrage over "major changes" Scarborough Council has proposed to the original plans.
The scheme which has attracted thousands of objections from locals includes 40 new pontoons, a water resource centre incorporating improved facilities for harbour users, a café and business units.
Work costing £500,000 begins this month on the pontoons – they are currently being manufacturered off site by Solent Marine – while building work is set to start in April. But now Scarborough Council has submitted a new planning application detailing more than 35 changes to the building and the land surrounding it.
These include the addition of a single storey brick-built electrical sub-station raised above ground level, a waste disposal building for bins, chemicals and oil and the extension of a balcony around the corners of the building which the council says is for "structural integrity. "Other changes include the provision of an external fire escape which was missed off the original plans, loss of planting in some areas and the revision of the parking layout to include more motorcycle spaces and parking spaces for the disabled.
Independent planning consultants Spawforths, who have submitted the planning application on behalf of the council's renaissance section, say the changes do not fundamentally change the design of the approved scheme.And in a letter of support to the council they say the alterations to the original plans are required to incorporate the structure of the water resource centre and to enable heating and ventilation to be put into into the building.
John Freeman, chairman of the Stop The Marina Action Group, said in his opinion Scarborough Council wants to make major changes to the building plans – and he is calling for the whole project to go back to public consultation. He said: "These additions constitute visual material exterior changes in an area where visual impact must be of paramount importance. "Our local councillors must look at their acceptance of the original plans and call into question Scarborough Council's motives regarding this development. "It always has been the wrong building in the wrong place.
"Mr Freeman also questioned the need for an electrical sub-station and said the fact it will be positioned at a raised level is an acknowledgement by the council that flooding is a real possibility. The local government ombudsman is still investigating whether or not the public were properly involved in the planning process – despite almost 2,500 people signing a position opposing the development Scarborough Council approved the plans.
A decision on the application looks likely to be made at the council's planning and development meeting on 29 March.
The plans are available for inspection at the council's office in Skinner Street and on its website and any comments should be sent to the Whitby office before the end of this month.Head of planning at Scarborough Council, Gordon Somerville, said the alterations to the marina building are of a very minor nature apart from the fire escape staircase which is needed to comply with building regulations. "The overall area of landscaping hasn't been changed. The landscaping has been revised to incorporate more appropriate species for the maritime climate of the site," he said.
"The floor level of the sub-station is the same as that of the marina building and follows advice received from the Environment Agency. "The need for these minor amendments has arisen from the detailed technical work carried out by consultants in working up the final details of the proposal before the start of work on site."
The scheme which has attracted thousands of objections from locals includes 40 new pontoons, a water resource centre incorporating improved facilities for harbour users, a café and business units.
Work costing £500,000 begins this month on the pontoons – they are currently being manufacturered off site by Solent Marine – while building work is set to start in April. But now Scarborough Council has submitted a new planning application detailing more than 35 changes to the building and the land surrounding it.
These include the addition of a single storey brick-built electrical sub-station raised above ground level, a waste disposal building for bins, chemicals and oil and the extension of a balcony around the corners of the building which the council says is for "structural integrity. "Other changes include the provision of an external fire escape which was missed off the original plans, loss of planting in some areas and the revision of the parking layout to include more motorcycle spaces and parking spaces for the disabled.
Independent planning consultants Spawforths, who have submitted the planning application on behalf of the council's renaissance section, say the changes do not fundamentally change the design of the approved scheme.And in a letter of support to the council they say the alterations to the original plans are required to incorporate the structure of the water resource centre and to enable heating and ventilation to be put into into the building.
John Freeman, chairman of the Stop The Marina Action Group, said in his opinion Scarborough Council wants to make major changes to the building plans – and he is calling for the whole project to go back to public consultation. He said: "These additions constitute visual material exterior changes in an area where visual impact must be of paramount importance. "Our local councillors must look at their acceptance of the original plans and call into question Scarborough Council's motives regarding this development. "It always has been the wrong building in the wrong place.
"Mr Freeman also questioned the need for an electrical sub-station and said the fact it will be positioned at a raised level is an acknowledgement by the council that flooding is a real possibility. The local government ombudsman is still investigating whether or not the public were properly involved in the planning process – despite almost 2,500 people signing a position opposing the development Scarborough Council approved the plans.
A decision on the application looks likely to be made at the council's planning and development meeting on 29 March.
The plans are available for inspection at the council's office in Skinner Street and on its website and any comments should be sent to the Whitby office before the end of this month.Head of planning at Scarborough Council, Gordon Somerville, said the alterations to the marina building are of a very minor nature apart from the fire escape staircase which is needed to comply with building regulations. "The overall area of landscaping hasn't been changed. The landscaping has been revised to incorporate more appropriate species for the maritime climate of the site," he said.
"The floor level of the sub-station is the same as that of the marina building and follows advice received from the Environment Agency. "The need for these minor amendments has arisen from the detailed technical work carried out by consultants in working up the final details of the proposal before the start of work on site."
February 08, 2007
Fitting Out
The latest photos on the website of Cariad brings an whole new meaning to the words Fitting Out. I know it can be tough on Whitby Carpark but at least we don't need a man with a gun yet.
Marina Improvements
Further changes are being proposed to the Marina Improvement Scheme details are available on the WyBA website at:
http://wyba.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!523ACC95B84FEE9D!290.entry.
http://wyba.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!523ACC95B84FEE9D!290.entry.