Peasholm's Lanterns Get A Second Chance

If you missed out on Moonlight on the Lake, you haven't missed the lanterns. Following the storm cancellations, Animated Objects has put together a free display at Peasholm Park, giving you until 28 November to see them. They're lit until 10:30 pm each evening, with no booking needed. You can follow the perimeter path and look across the water; the island itself remains closed.

There's another chapter in the Freddie Gilroy story. Scarborough Town Council wants more information before taking responsibility for the statue and backing the proposed £50,000 restoration and move. Councillors questioned the bill, the location and what the town would be taking on. The need to look after Freddie hasn't gone away, but the proposed solution hasn't won them over.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire has been promised £268 million for road repairs over the next four years. Separate funding covers road safety, walking, cycling and bus punctuality. There's no Scarborough-specific repair list in this announcement, so we're still waiting to see how those county-wide figures translate into smoother journeys here.

Read on for the rest of this week's news and what's happening through the weekend.

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📰 Scarborough Life

🛣️ Road repair funding announced. Mayor David Skaith has outlined £268 million for road repairs across North Yorkshire over four years, alongside funding for road safety, walking, cycling and bus punctuality. The source identifies no specific Scarborough-area projects.

🏮 Free lantern display at Peasholm. Animated Objects' free Art in the Park display runs until 28 November, with lanterns lit until 10:30 pm nightly. View them from the perimeter path; the island remains closed.

🗿 Freddie Gilroy decision put back. Scarborough Town Council has deferred taking ownership of Freddie Gilroy and backing the £50,000 restoration and relocation project. Councillors want more information on costs, liabilities and alternatives before deciding.

💉 Free flu clinics for schoolchildren. Drop-in flu vaccinations for school-aged children start at Scarborough Market Hall on 30 October, 10 am to 2 pm, followed by Whitby's Coliseum on 18 November and Pickering Library on 19 November.

🏥 Scarborough dialysis unit in special measures. The CQC has placed Scarborough's dialysis unit in special measures after finding treatment delays, staffing shortages and infection risks. Operator Fresenius disputes the report's fairness and says it is taking action.

🌧️ Coastal communities recover after storms. Flooding hit homes on Scarborough's Esplanade, Falsgrave Road and surrounding streets, while fallen trees disrupted Whitby. Residents and farmers helped clear roads and check on neighbours alongside emergency services and council teams.

🚒 Rural emergency roles could expand. North Yorkshire is exploring combined police, fire and ambulance roles beyond Craven, where four public safety officers already work. No additional locations have been confirmed.

🏗️ Council approves Brunswick redevelopment loan. North Yorkshire Council has approved an £8 million loan for Brunswick, supporting Scarborough's proposed cinema and leisure complex. Funding will be phased, with up to £1 million unrecoverable if the project stops before construction.

🏘️ Have your say on development plans. A new North Yorkshire local plan will replace existing plans covering the former Scarborough borough and other districts, guiding development to 2045. Residents can comment on its scope and consultation arrangements until 7 December.

🏀 Hunmanby floodlit sports hub approved. An unused tennis court at the village playing fields will become a football, basketball and netball facility. Closing times are 10 pm Monday to Thursday and 9 pm Friday to Sunday, with online booking.

🎨 Seven schools offered extracurricular support. Schools in Scarborough and Whitby have been invited into an enrichment programme linking schools and community groups. Work runs from January 2027 to March 2029, widening access to sport, culture and volunteering.

🧳 National park tourist levy powers questioned. Ministers say mayors would need impact assessments and local consultation before introducing an overnight visitor levy. They've stopped short of promising national park authorities a veto; no levy has been confirmed.

🚻 Whitby seeks water bill repayment. Whitby Town Council is pursuing £19,562 in disputed water charges linked to Market Place toilets after an audit found billing errors. North Yorkshire Council says enquiries continue and hasn't confirmed whether it accepts the claim.

🚆 Heritage diesel visits Whitby on Friday. A West Coast Class 47 will haul the Whitby Goth Express on 30 October, arriving at 12:58 pm and departing at 4:35 pm. It will pass through Grosmont and Sleights.

🍸 Swindlers seeks later alcohol licence. The bar at 19 Aberdeen Walk has applied for alcohol sales until 11:30 pm daily and removal of its restriction to ticketed events after 8 pm. Comments close on 19 November.

⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue

🗿 Freddie Gilroy statue could move. A £50,000 proposal would relocate Scarborough's Freddie Gilroy statue 200 metres along the seafront.

🎄 Whitby Christmas Festival dates announced. Whitby Christmas Festival returns from 13 to 15 November, with live music and family entertainment.

🎸 Kings of Leon announce Scarborough show. The band will play Scarborough Open Air Theatre on 27 June 2027.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

We keep it short here - head to our EVENTS PAGE for links and future events.

Thursday, 29 October

10:15 🎨 Crossgates Art Club - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
13:30 🎭 All At Sea - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
14:00 🎩 Magic Mike's Halloween Special - Scarborough Spa
17:00 🎃 Halloween Disco - Scarborough Flyer
18:30 🎨 Evening Art Session - Robin Hood's Bay Studio & Gallery
19:00 👻 Dark Tales Walking Tour - The Grand Hotel, Scarborough
19:30 🎧 Dark Souls: Fundraiser - Whitby Friendship Amateur Rowing Club
19:30 🗣️ Debating Club - Newby & Scalby Library
19:30 🎭 All At Sea - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:00 🎶 An Evening With… Alastair James - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
20:00 🧠 Quiz Night - The Tunny Catch, Scarborough
20:30 🧠 Quiz Night - Highlander Hotel, Scarborough

Friday, 30 October

09:45 🎳 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
10:00 💃 Easy Sequence Dancing - Cayton Village Hall
10:00 🎃 Halloween Pumpkin Event - North Bay, Scarborough
13:00 🧵 SEWcial Sewing & Textile - Stitched by the Beach, Scarborough
17:00 🎃 Kids Halloween Party - Gristhorpe & Lebberston Village Hall
18:00 🦇 Revenant IV - Whitby Goth Weekend - Royal Hotel Whitby
18:00 🦇 Tomorrow's Ghosts Festival 2026 - Day 1 - Whitby Pavilion
18:00 💃 Line Dancing - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Chris Helme - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Robbie Williams: Tribute Night - The Mayfield, Seamer
19:00 👻 Dark Tales Walking Tour - The Grand Hotel, Scarborough
19:00 🎧 Trust Your DJ - Whitby Friendship Amateur Rowing Club
19:00 🛼 Halloween Social Skate - YMCA, Scarborough
19:00 🎳 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
19:30 🎭 All At Sea - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:00 🎧 Taking Back Halloween - Marley's, Scarborough
20:30 🎤 Open Mic Night - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
21:00 🎧 Fright-Day - Fusion Scarborough

Saturday, 31 October

09:00 🏃 Scarborough Woodlands Parkrun - Graffiti Bridge, Scarborough
09:00 🛍️ Whispers of Whitby Market - Whitby Market
10:00 🧵 Saturday Knitting Class - Ebberston Studios
11:00 🎃 Halloween Pumpkin Event - North Bay, Scarborough
11:30 🧘 Yogalates - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
12:00 🎃 Halloween Birthday Bash! - Three Jolly Sailors, Burniston
13:30 🎧 Halloween Kids Rave - The Royal Hotel, Scarborough
14:00 🎯 Pinball Tournament - Jam Jar Wine & Pinball Lounge, Scarborough
14:30 🎭 All At Sea - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
16:00 🗣️ Lol Tolhurst - Whitby Pavilion
17:00 🎶 Halloween: Skandals Live - Three Jolly Sailors, Burniston
18:00 🦇 Tomorrow's Ghosts Festival 2026 - Day 2 - Whitby Pavilion
19:00 🧠 Halloween Quiz - The BellyRub Bar, Scarborough
19:00 💃 Easy Sequence Dancing - Cayton Village Hall
19:00 👻 Dark Tales Walking Tour - The Grand Hotel, Scarborough
19:30 🩰 Swan Lake - Scarborough Spa
19:30 🎭 All At Sea - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
20:00 🎭 Scream Queen Drag Show - The Distiller's Lounge, Scarborough
21:00 🎧 Luminate Spooktacular feat: Pat Fulgoni - The Cask & Keg, Scarborough
21:00 🎶 Live Music Night (Sat) - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough

Sunday, 1 November

16:00 🎭 Dead Famous - Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
16:00 🎤 Under 20s Open Mic - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
17:00 🎯 Sunday Socials - Haddock Hideaway, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 The Jersey Beats - Scarborough Spa

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Sue | Editor | The Scarborough Insider