Whitby Piers To Be Demolished

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Scarborough Borough Council have revealed drastic plans to demolish both outer piers at Whitby Harbour, which have stood for over 300 years. They will be replaced with a specially designed (to withstand high seas) v shaped loch type gate to act as sea defence. The barrier and gate will bridge the gap between the two inner piers adjacent to the lighthouse. Any surplus and recoverable stone and materials would be shipped down the coast and be used to help construction work on Scarborough’s East Pier Extension.

A study of the outer and inner piers has been ongoing since the formation of the Whitby Coastal Defence Strategy in 2002. The bleak conclusion of that survey was that the piers had a life expectancy of no more than 10 years. In recent months there have been numerous meetings between Whitby Council and it’s Scarborough counterparts, who have overall control of the sea defence. Members of the public attended a meeting and presentation so their views and concerns could be aired, however the numbers were very low and most were pensioners. The use of rock armour, like that around Scarborough’s Marine Drive was one viable option, however Whitby Council felt this course of action would ruin the appearance of the piers, being described as expensive and ugly.

The radical decision is based on recent scientific predictions forecasting a rise in mean sea levels by over 1 metre during the next 100 years. Behind closed doors, senior members of both councils, met with government scientists who informed them of the bleak prediction. All avenues were discussed on how best to shore up the piers, but it was decided the logical course would be to call time on the outer piers. A senior spokesman for Scarborough Council, Albert Cole said, “In light of this scientific prediction, it is clear that we are now entering into a defining and crucial part of our ecological history. To put our predicament in colloquial terms “the gloves are now off”. We have to accept that it is a coastal community and therefore are at the mercy of the sea and it’s environments. Drastic measures have to be taken, and it is pointless throwing money at projects that will in the very near future be useless”. Giles Hartley-Brewer, the senior government scientist at the meeting, praised the council’s decision stating “By demolishing a prominent landmark such as the outer piers that have stood for 300 years, the council has used a very pragmatic approach to rising sea levels, choosing reality as opposed to sentimentality. This sort of clear and definite approach is what is needed throughout the UK and indeed the whole world. It will be seen as a benchmark no-nonsense approach with the key word being sacrifice. I predict large areas of the land being sacrificed to the sea , particular in the low-lying counties along the east coast. There is no point at all to use large sums of money up against impossible odds”

It is believed that Council chiefs will be meeting with specialist marine civil engineers early next month to do a in depth survey of the proposed plans. John Smith, an outside engineering consultant who is an expert on civil marine works, whom is advising the council, said “There is no doubt that the proposal is feasible, so it is now simply a question of drawing up plans and putting out tenders as soon as possible. We have to establish a workable time scale for this operation. Like many projects such as this summertime obviously is the best period as it gives the best opportunity of settled weather. If no major problems are found in the survey, I can see the work commencing in the spring of 2010. I am really excited about being involved in this operation, and I am fully behind the decision, that will in the long term benefit the people of both Whitby and Scarborough”

This is just an April fools joke. The above text was written by a friend who assisted with the joke. Thank you to those of you who twigged the joke and went along with it. My apologies go to Scarborough Council, I hope you didn’t have to answer the phone too many times today and explain this was a joke to irate Whitby residents. I hope the council realise just how much the Whitby piers mean to the local sea angling community. If you put rock armour around the piers you will ruin another great fishing venue just like you did at Scarborough Marine Drive. Please think twice before you do the same at Whitby.

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