Cliffs continue to cause concern
A land slip near St Mary's Church in Whitby w130204
The cliff face behind Henrietta Street is continuing to slowly collapse, as this image shows, with residents fearing that not enough is being done by the authorities to prevent disaster.
The Gazette first reported in November that Barry Brown, owner of Fortune’s Kippers, had grown concerned about the safety of his business after land, and even the human bones, began to fall away following heavy rainfall.
However, despite claims in the national media to the contrary this week, St Mary’s Church is not in danger of collapse, according to the Diocese of York.
A spokesperson for the diocese has echoed the words of the church’s rector, the Rev Canon David Smith, in explaining that the church is anchored to the bedrock and is therefore safe.
The diocese spokesperson added: “A lot of the emergency engineering steps have already been taken. What is happening now is mainly ensuring the stability of the slope.”
A fence has been constructed at the base of the slope, but the saturated ground has continued to subside at an alarming rate.
Meanwhile, further along the East Side, contractors have begun to tidy up Aelfleda Terrace now demolition is complete, with uncertainty surrounding the future of that area.
Following the failure of any representative from Scarborough Borough Council to attend an extraordinary meeting of the town council last month, Whitby’s representatives have once again extended an invitation to their borough counterparts.
Coun John Dickinson asked why Couns Dorothy Clegg and Sandra Turner, who represent the Streonshalh ward, had not attended the meeting.
Coun Joyce Stangoe said: “I think they should come and speak to the local people about this issue because it’s so important to Whitby.”
However, Coun Simon Parkes was not confident that SBC would accept the invitation.
He said: “We have not had any support from them so why should they start now?”
A group of Gothic friends of the Gazette’s Facebook group have raised £420 in a month for Jude Knight, whose Aelfleda Terrace home was demolished following that landslip.
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Weather for Whitby
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 3 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 33 mph
Wind direction: North west
