Two Months Late, Station Plans Pass
Revised plans for Scarborough's Station Gateway have been approved, two months after drop-off worries stalled them. Plus an unnamed buyer lined up for Alpamare and The Manfreds coming to the Spa Theatre.
The forecourt outside Scarborough station is about to get a lot more room. Councillors approved the revised Station Gateway scheme on Thursday, two months after worries about drop-offs sent it back in August. Pedestrian space nearly doubles, the taxi rank and Blue Badge bays stay put, and new seating and bus shelters arrive.
Up Burniston Road, Alpamare has a buyer lined up. The council won't say who, only that they plan improvements and a reopening in early 2027, with the 20-space car park thrown in for 99 years at peppercorn rent. Most of the £9m loan that built it has already been written off.
If the younger ones need something to fill the wait, Russ Walker's rhyming picture book about a bear's day out in Scarborough takes in the harbour, the castle and the North Bay Railway, with a bit of local history at each stop.
Further up the age range, original Manfred Mann members Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness bring The Manfreds to the Spa Theatre on Friday 20 November.
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📰 Scarborough Life
🚉 Station Gateway Finally Gets Go-Ahead. Revised plans for Scarborough's Station Gateway scheme were approved on 8 October, two months after drop-off worries stalled them. The taxi rank survives, and pedestrian space outside the station nearly doubles.
💦 Alpamare Buyer Lined Up. An unnamed bidder plans to reopen Scarborough's Alpamare waterpark in early 2027, and would get its 20-space car park for 99 years at peppercorn rent. Most of the £9m loan that built it was written off.
🚡 Quick Fix Sought for Spa Lift. The council is exploring whether short-term repairs could safely reopen Scarborough Spa's cliff lift after its August closure, though a full refurbishment will probably be needed. It cost about £8,000 to build in 1875.
🧸 A Bear's Tour of Scarborough. Russ Walker's rhyming picture book, Bear Visits Scarborough, covers the harbour, castle and North Bay Railway, with local history at each stop. Bear sees more of town than most visitors do in a week.
🎸 The Manfreds Return to the Spa. Original Manfred Mann members Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness bring The Manfreds' live show to the Spa Theatre on Friday 20 November. Singing along to Do Wah Diddy Diddy is optional.
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⚓ Whitby Maritime Hub's Tenants Still Unnamed. Whitby's £10m Maritime Hub on Endeavour Wharf should open early next year, though the council is keeping its prospective tenants under wraps. It won't even say how many are in talks.
💧 Drought Declared, But No Water Restrictions. Yorkshire has entered drought status after a hot, dry summer, though Yorkshire Water says no restrictions are planned. Reservoirs sit at 42.7 per cent, ten points down on this time last year.
🏠 Second Homes Tax Goes Under Review. North Yorkshire's 100 per cent council tax premium on second homes is heading to a scrutiny committee after a campaigners' petition. Councillors want evidence it has actually returned homes to full-time use.
🚂 Whitby to York Rail Revival Pitched. As consultation on the draft regional transport plan reaches Scarborough Indoor Market on 14 October, a Whitby councillor wants the nine-mile Rillington-Pickering line rebuilt. The bus from Whitby to York takes nearly three hours.
🛏️ Calls to Raise VAT Threshold. A Scarborough councillor wants the VAT threshold raised to £120,000 ahead of a possible visitor levy of up to five per cent. Many guest houses shut from October to March to stay under £90,000.
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🐈 Puss in Boots Prowls Into the SJT. The Stephen Joseph Theatre's Christmas show opens in two months, with £10 tickets for children and 20 per cent off for NHS, care and emergency workers. Opening performances are £16 for everyone.
👻 Halloween Ghostwalk Haunts Castle Road. Paranormal podcaster James Koppert leads a fundraising Halloween ghostwalk from St Mary's Church on Monday 26 October, 7 pm- 9 pm. Over-12s only. Tickets are £6, with every penny going towards Liam Critchett's physiotherapy.
☀️ Eastfield and Whitby Go Solar. Eastfield Police Station, Whitby Leisure Centre and Whitby Maritime Hub will get solar panels to cut bills, with savings funding frontline services. They share a £30m national pot with more than 150 other projects.
🏨 Mayor Defends Proposed Visitor Levy. Mayor David Skaith says an overnight visitor levy of up to five per cent could pay for buses, high streets and Whitby's cliff lift, and won't cost jobs. It isn't law yet.
🚻 Filey Station Toilets Shut for Good. Northern has permanently closed the toilets at Filey Station after further serious vandalism. Shorter opening hours and other measures over recent years have failed to stop it.
⛵ Filey Sea Cadets Get Planning Go-Ahead. Filey Sea Cadets' new headquarters will replace the 100-year-old Southdene Pavilion, a former theatre and dance hall, after ten years of planning. Now comes the £3.5m fundraising campaign.
⭐ Readers’ Choice: Top Posts From Last Issue
🎤 Bananarama Booked for Open Air Theatre. They headline Scarborough on Saturday 17 July 2027, with Jason Donovan and Altered Images.
🛒 Proudfoot Closes Three Stores. The family grocer, founded in Seamer in 1948, has shut three of its stores, keeping the Eastfield High Street location open.
🌊 South Bay Bathing Water Probe Widens. Yorkshire Water checked Grand Hotel drainage but isn’t blaming it, with seabirds still the main suspect.
🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
We keep it short here - head to our EVENTS PAGE for links and future events.
Sue
Sunday, 11 October
10:00 🛍️ Table Top Sale - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
10:30 ⛪ Harvest Festival - St Marks Church, Scarborough
14:00 🤼 American Wrestling - YMCA, Scarborough
16:00 🎤 Under 20s Open Mic - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
17:00 🎯 Sunday Socials - Haddock Hideaway, Scarborough
19:00 🎶 Sunday Sessions - The Crescent Lounge, Scarborough
19:30 🎶 Eddi Reader - Whitby Pavilion
Monday, 12 October
09:30 🧘 Yoga Class - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
09:45 🎳 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
13:30 🧵 Craft & Social Group - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
14:00 🧘 Tai Chi Classes - Filey Evron Centre
17:45 🧘 Clubbercise with T. J - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
18:45 🥊 Beat Boxing Fitness - Queen Street Methodist Church, Scarborough
19:30 🧘 Clubbercise - Queen Street Methodist Church, Scarborough
20:00 🎶 Live Music: Folk Club - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
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Tuesday, 13 October
09:30 🧘 Pilates Plus - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
10:30 🧵 Craft & Coffee Morning - Indie Revival, Scarborough
11:00 🧘 Chair exercises - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
11:15 🎳 Social Bowls - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
13:00 💃 Line Dancing: Beginners - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
13:00 💃 An Afternoon of Dancing - Whitby Pavilion
13:30 🩰 Over 55s Ballet Classes - Yorkshire Coast School of Ballet, Scarborough
14:00 💃 Line Dancing: Improvers - Alexandra Community Centre, Scarborough
14:00 🎨 Afternoon Art Session - Robin Hood's Bay Studio & Gallery
19:00 🤝 Deaf Group - Room 22 - The Street, Scarborough
19:00 🧘 Pilates Class - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
19:30 ❓ Quiz Night - The Merchant Irish Bar, Scarborough
19:30 😂 Georgie Carroll: Infectious - Scarborough Spa
Wednesday, 14 October
10:00 🎯 Happy Days Friendship Group - Hunmanby Community Centre
10:00 🎸 Ukulele Class - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
11:00 💃 Circle Dancing - St. James Community Hall, Scarborough
13:00 🎲 Board Games Sessions - Haddock Hideaway, Scarborough
13:00 🏓 Pickleball - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
14:00 💃 Easy Sequence Dancing - Cayton Village Hall
17:00 🧵 SEWcial Sewing & Textile - Stitched by the Beach, Scarborough
17:30 🧘 Yoga Class - Crossgates Community Centre, Scarborough
18:45 🧘 Peach Squad: Workout - Queen Street Methodist Church, Scarborough
19:00 💃 Scarborough Dine & Dance - Scarborough Spa
19:00 🩰 Adult Ballet - Yorkshire Coast School of Ballet, Scarborough
19:30 🧘 Clubbercise - Queen Street Methodist Church, Scarborough
19:30 ❓ Quiz Night & Jackpot - The Ramshill, Scarborough
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👋 That’s All For Now 🎬
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Sue | Editor | The Scarborough Insider
