Scarborough Grand Hotel: Keane Duncan plans to buy landmark venue

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A view from the beach of the Grand Hotel in ScarboroughImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Built in 1863, the Grand Hotel stands above Scarborough's South Bay

North Yorkshire mayoral candidate Keane Duncan says he plans to buy and restore Scarborough's Grand Hotel if elected.

The Conservative nominee said if he was successful in May's vote, he intended to purchase the landmark Victorian hotel and "make it grand again".

Rival candidates have criticised the plan calling it neither "deliverable or feasible" and said the proposal would "blow the authority's budget".

The BBC has contacted current owners Britannia for comment.

Mr Duncan, who is one of six people in the running to be York and North Yorkshire's first elected mayor, said the Grand had gone from being one of the "largest and most luxurious hotels in Europe" to the "shame of Scarborough".

In a statement, he said: "I admit this is a radical plan, but tackling the problem of the Grand is absolutely essential for Scarborough's future fortunes."

Image source, Joshua Cook/BBC
Image caption,

Keane Duncan (third from right) made the pledge during a mayoral debate on Wednesday

Mr Duncan used a live mayoral debate on Wednesday to repeat his pledge and promised to deliver free car parking for every town and city in North Yorkshire.

Reacting to his plans for the Grand, Lib Dem candidate Ms Cunliffe-Lister, who owns Swinton Park hotel in Ripon, said: "As a hotelier myself, I can't see any sense this.

"Keane Duncan has just blown his annual budget on free car parking, and now he's going to run a hotel? Without doubt Scarborough needs investment, but this isn't the way to generate growth and create high-skilled jobs."

Labour's David Skaith said the plan would "blow the authority's budget" while Independent candidate Paul Haslam said such a project could become an "an unnecessary drain on tight finances", adding the mayor and combined authority would need to carry out full due diligence before committing to anything.

Fellow independent Keith Tordoff agreed the hotel was in need of "investment and upgrading to recapture its former glory" and said that if elected, he would work with the owners to offer advice and support.However, he said Mr Duncan was "out of his depth and has no concept of the huge financial commitment that such a project would entail".

Green candidate Kevin Foster described the plan as an "unfunded gimmick".

The candidates for the North Yorkshire Mayoral election are:

  • Felicity Cunliffe-Lister - Liberal Democrats

  • Keane Duncan - The Conservative Party

  • Kevin Foster- The Green Party

  • Paul Haslam - Independent

  • David Skaith - Labour and Co-operative Party

  • Keith Tordoff - Independent

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