This is going to be a long post and, I guess, of interest to all those folks who love Whitby and understand what a unique and precious town it is. If you have Whitby’s best interests at heart, read on…
I’ve just received an email from Nigel Ward, the chairman of WHITBY IN SHORTS INTERNATIONAL SHORT-FILM FESTIVAL.
Here’s what he had to say AND he’s asking for YOUR views and help:
Hi again,
I wonder if you could be persuaded to solicit your visitors (and friends) views on my Outline Proposal for the Endeavour Wharf Cargo Shed, which I submitted to Yorkshire Forward’s Andy Tordoff, Assistant Director Environment (Tourism and Rural Renaissance), in Whitby on Monday 23rd March.
Mr Tordoff has since emailed me to say that he finds merit in the proposal, and has asked for a week or two in which to convene a meeting of representatives from the relavent parties.
I attach a PDF of my Proposal for your information. I understand that the Whitby Gazette plans to publish a major story in next Tuesday’s edition, ahead of the Whitby Town Council Meeting. In the light of the recent dramatic increase in public criticism of SBC’s performance in Whitby, I anticipate that the Proposal is certain to ignite debate.
SBC’s Head of Technical Services, Mr John Riby, has made a ‘twin track’ recommendation to cabinet;
1) demolish the Cargo Shed, (thereby increasing the capacity of the Car Park – this, notwithstanding the go- ahead for the Park & Ride, the specific purpose of which is to reduce the number of cars in the town centre, income from which accrues to SBC.
2) whilst seeking avenues through which to impement the demolition, to simultaneously attempt to solicit interest from commerce and industry to develop the site for private enterprise.
The new alternative presented in my Outline Proposal is to develop the Shed as a public amenity in the form of a cinema/theatre complex, with vocational-training facilities for Whitby’s youth – with emphasis on film, drama, the visual arts and the modern technologies that form an integral part of the media industries, as well as a large multi-purpose space to host indoor sports, live entertainment (a possible new venue for Musicport), plus studio facilities for visiting film and TV production companies, and an indoor local crafts-and-produce/Christmas market. The plan also includes a large balcony/viewing-platform to be built at the north end of the shed, overlooking the Grand Turk in the foreground, with the swing-bridge in the mid-ground, and the lower harbour and Abbey headland in the background. And a patio cafe at the south end to serve the Marina.
But the principal thrust of the Proposal is that the new facility should be under Whitby management, in the form of a charitable institution whose declared beneficiary is Whitby itself.
I would be pleased to hear your views, and those of the Whitby populace. I hope you will agree that by encouraging public awareness and debate we are inviting Whitby people to take a hand in the future development of our town.
Kind regards,
Nigel Ward
Chairman: ‘Wississiffi’
“WHITBY IN SHORTS” INTERNATIONAL SHORT-FILM FESTIVAL CIC (Reg.No.6845721)
So, there you have it. Nigel’s proposal sounds great to me AND puts control firmly in the hands of Whitby folk with the benefits being ploughed back into Whitby.
Please let me know what you think so that I can get back in touch with Nigel and pass on your opinions. This is a big issue for Whitby and I know that there are many readers of this blog scattered across the globe who passionately care about this area of the world.
Please let me know what you think by visiting the contact page and getting in touch.
Thanks for your help!
Alan
