Divided opinions over £11m Scarborough West Pier plan

North Yorkshire Council wants to transform Scarborough's West Pier

Proposals for an £11m redevelopment of Scarborough's West Pier are a "land grab" which would only benefit tourists, a fisherman has claimed.

A consultation into the plans, which include a new seafood restaurant, an events space and the restoration of historical buildings, is now under way.

But Scarborough trawlerman Fred Normandale said: "They are taking the fisherman away from the pier."

North Yorkshire Council said the plans would improve the pier for everyone.

The proposals for the West Pier, funded by a £20.2m Towns Fund grant given to Scarborough in 2021, also include new buildings for some businesses as well as new facilities for the local fishing fleet.

Scarborough was now the second biggest harbour in Europe for lobster catches, according to North Yorkshire Council.

Fred Normandale says he believes the whole of the harbour in Scarborough is in need of investment

A public consultation on the proposals for the pier runs until 13 October, however Mr Normandale said he believed the suggested changes were already "a done deal".

"They are not saying, what would you like, what can we do for you, what do you expect out of these plans?" he said.

Mr Normandale, who has been involved in fishing for over six decades, said he and his colleagues in the industry locally had serious concerns about the plans.

"They are taking the fisherman away from the pier. It is a land grab.

"They are taking all the land behind the fish market and it is going to be for the public and for tourism."

As part of the plans, buildings would be restored and a new public space for cultural events would be created

However, David Jenkinson, who runs a shellfish business on the end of the West Pier, said he was "all for" the redevelopment plans for the landmark site.

"The West Pier needs an uplift. We've been like this for many, many years," he said.

Meanwhile, Shaun Wood, who runs TG Wood, a fish wholesaler which has been based at the pier since 1970, said businesses there were "desperate" for improvements.

"Nothing has been spent here. [West Pier] is not fit for purpose, the facilities here are shocking."

Nic Harne, North Yorkshire Council's corporate director for community development, said if given the go-ahead, the plans currently out for consultation aimed to improve the pier for the "benefit of the local businesses in the area", including Scarborough's fishermen.

There had been considerable consultation over a two-year period and this was the final one before a planning application was made, Mr Harne added.

"We have listened during that period. We've made several changes to what the initial proposals were.

"Hopefully we are getting towards something everyone will get behind and support."