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Whitby Community Network CIC�Public Meeting : �Monday 14th September 2026

How Do We Protect and Manage the River Esk Catchment Area & the North Sea? 

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Agenda

  • Introduction & Consultations
  • How Do We Protect and Manage the River Esk Catchment Area & the North Sea?
  • Updates
  • Any Other Business
  • Next Meeting

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Open Consultations

North Yorkshire Council:

see https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/consultations-and-engagement/current-consultations

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  1. Shaping Adults’ Residential and Nursing Care in North Yorkshire: Help us to review how care home services are arranged and delivered. Consultation closes on Wednesday 23 September.
  2. All-age Carers' Strategy consultation: We are asking carers and professionals to share your views on our new All-age Carers' Strategy. Closing date: Sunday 27 September 2026
  3. Polling districts and polling places interim review 2026: We are carrying out an interim review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations across North Yorkshire. Consultation closes on Monday 12 October 2026.

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Open Consultations

4. Parks and open spaces satisfaction survey: North Yorkshire Council wants to make sure our parks and open spaces are great places for everyone to enjoy and we would like to hear your views.

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5. Extra Care Housing-Whitby: on-line "consultation re proposal to develop extra care housing in Whitby

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/Z88ER3/

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6. Whitby Neighbourhood plan: We are consulting on a proposal for a Whitby Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 16). The consultation is taking place from Friday 14 August to 11.59pm on Monday 28 September 2026. Further information is available on our Whitby Neighbourhood Plan webpage.

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Open Consultations

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority:

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  1. Y&NY Local Transport Plan: Consultation now open. Have your say on the draft plan by completing our online survey. More information plus details of future drop-in events and webinars will be shared on: https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/local-transport-plan-consultation/Thursday 8th October, 10am to 2pm, Whitby Market

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2. Violence and Community Safety in York and North Yorkshire:

This year’s survey also includes specific questions about online safety and Violence Against Women and Girls. The survey is open until Sunday 27 September 2026 and can be accessed here: 

https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/serious-violence-survey-2026/

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Open Consultations

Petitions: UK Government and Parliament:

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"Review & reform the per pupil funding formula to support rural & coastal schools"

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777603

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How Do We Protect and Manage the River Esk Catchment Area & the North Sea? 

Issues: flooding, droughts, water supply, coastal erosion, pollution etc

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How do we as a community solve these issues and help to increase biodiversity, access to blue spaces and improve the “blue” economy?

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How Do We Protect and Manage the River Esk Catchment Area & the North Sea?

How Do We Protect and Manage the River Esk Catchment Area & the North Sea?

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Prevent Flood Risk

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NYMNPA: strategic flood risk for the River Esk covers to Ruswarp Weir only.

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DEFRA: tidal flood risk assessment for NE Coast and Whitby Harbour.

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SBC and Ryedale Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Final Report November 2021 (limited info on River Esk/Flood events)

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NYC Flood Risk Strategy 2022-2027 does not include tidal flood risks. EA & NYC need to undertake a combined flood risk assessment (river + tidal) for Whitby.

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Prevent Drought/Fight Fires

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Coastal Erosion

PU19.3 Staithes - Hold the line

PU20.1 Old Nab - No active intervention

PU20.2 Port Mulgrave - No active intervention

PU20.3 Lingrow - No active intervention

PU21.1 Runswick Village - Hold the line

PU21.2 Runswick Bay - No active intervention

PU21.3 Kettleness - No active intervention

Coastal Erosion

PU22.1 Sandsend cliffs - No active intervention

PU22.2 Sandsend Village - Hold the line

PU22.3 Coastal road - Hold the line

PU22.4 Upgang Beach - No active intervention

PU23.1 Upgang Beck - Hold the line

PU23.2 West Cliff - Hold the line

PU23.3 Harbour and Abbey cliffs - Hold the line

PU24.1 The Stray - No active intervention

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Coastal Erosion

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PU25.1 Saltwick to Hundale - No active intervention

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PU25.2 Village of Robin Hood’s Bay - Hold the line

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Improve Biodiversity - National Maritime Park?

  • Heritage Coast: part of the 36 mile North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast
  • Whitby West Cliff Beach: Blue Flag and Seaside Award
  • Runswick Bay MCZ: extends 3 nautical miles offshore
  • Great Yorkshire Kelp Forest

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How Do We Protect and Manage the River Esk Catchment Area & the North Sea?

Speakers:

YMNP: Heather Davison-Smith, Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership Development Officer

NYMNP: Chloe Wainwright, Partnership Manager (Esk & Coastal Streams) & Alex Alexandra Cripps, Nature Recovery Programme Manager, NYMNP

NYC: Lucy Trewhitt, Area Officer Resilience and Emergencies, Scarborough and Whitby, NYC

YW: Anna Warrington, River Health Investigation and Engagement Lead

EA: ?

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Updates

Whitby Neighbourhood Plan: Public consultation 14 August to 28 September.

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Whitby Town Investment Plans: No further progress reported.

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Harbour News:

  • Harbour User’s Group reported major work to be carried out next year with some possible closures, looking to run a river ferry service.
  • Whalebone replacement not from harbour funding, although Captain Cook statue repairs were - £66,000 needs refunding. Further monies plus interest from 1989 still to be repaid to harbour accounts.

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Whitby Beach Access Project: Awaiting response from NYC.

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Public Realm Town Deal:  Still finalising designs, no consultation date as yet.

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Roads : Vehicle Influx �- �WCN �to seek funding for new project

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Whitby School & Education Update

  • Transport: meeting held for Staiithes/Hiderwell area school transport?

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  • East Barnby Outdoor Education Centre : closed December 2025 due to electrical and infrastructure issues. Residential coastal outdoor learning opportunities to be delivered through an interim arrangement with Birch Hall Scout Campsite, Scarborough, while future options explored by NYC.
  • Mission Coastal initiative: is Whitby no longer included,

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Update - YNYCA Rural Bus Pilot (1)

  • Y&NY Combined Authority received £564,000 funding from DfT to pursue a pilot into rural bus franchising
  • Split into 5 pilot areas, with one being “North York Moors” (including Whitby).
  • Pilot run by Haskoning, with invited participants – WCN CIC represented.
  • First workshop (July 2026) resulted in problem areas being defined, incl
      • Areas of Whitby with no bus service
      • Villages outside Whitby with no bus service
      • Lack of early / late services to facilitate work / leisure.
      • Lack of connectivity to hospitals and other key centres.
      • Lack of reliability of services and inadequate frequency.
      • Lack of bus shelters, seats, timetable information.
      • Tourism impact on services and demand management.

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Update - YNYCA Rural Bus Pilot (2)

Second workshop (9th Sept 2026) revealed their initial proposals. These included the following which would affect residents / visitors here

  • Add earlier / later services to the X93/X94
  • Add earlier / later services to the 840 Coastliner
  • Improved bus shelters, seats and bus information (inc digital).

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We pointed out that this ignores the elephant in the room – areas with no bus service, and routes that are non-existent. This was noted – whether they get included is undefined.

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Haskoning will come up with a (final) report to present to the Y&NY Combined Authority in the next few months.

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Updates : Housing & Services (1)

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  • Elderly Care Housing:on-line "consultation re proposal to develop extra care housing in Whitby https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/Z88ER3/
  • Ex Eskdale mobile classrooms: to be repurposed for changing rooms and a community clubhouse for Fishburn Park FC
  • Town Planning - is this short term/shortsighted, silo working:
      • Older Peoples Village required - redundant hospital/Police Station or old Grammer school site
      • New one-site secondary school urgently needed
      • Community centre for the new housing estates, 3G pitch & Fishburn Park FC is needed

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Updates :

  • Draft Whitby Parking Strategy: awaiting publication
  • NYMNP Local Plan Review: JS sent WCN response to consultation
  • NYC Local Plans: presented to WTC, no update available
  • North Yorkshire Maritime & Renewables Cluster: Launch meetings Monday 14 September at Whitby Library & Scarborough UTC
  • Abbey View Estate Green Space: Resident’s meeting planned for 8th October.

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Next WCN Public Meeting

Mon 19th October 6.00 - 8.00pm

Theme: To be decided

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Possible : YNYCA Local Transport Plan Consultation TBC

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Whitby Community Network CIC�“Campaigning on the problems facing Whitby & District”

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