Formal start of stabilisation scheme

Partners involved in the delivery of a  £13.453 million scheme to stabilise the cliffs behind the Spa complex in the Yorkshire coast town of Scarborough gathered today to formally mark the start of the scheme.

The Scarborough South Cliff Slope Stabilisation Scheme, will involve piling along the rear of the Spa complex with almost horizontal drainage to address the deep seated failure of the slope, soil reinforcement (‘nailing’) and re-grading of the slope to address shallow and medium seated instabilities, together with further drainage measures, other works including repairs to the arch structure near the Spa Cliff lift and relaying of cliff access paths and basic landscaping and replanting.

Balfour Beatty is delivering the scheme on behalf of Scarborough Borough Council, which has been mainly funded by a Defra grant of £11.6m, administered by the Environment Agency, with the difference being made up by contributions from Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

The Balfour Beatty project team met with representatives from Scarborough Borough Council and the Environment Agency to show the advance work already carried out to prepare the slope for the main scheme, which has included clearance of vegetation and pathways and erection of fencing around the perimeter of the site.

The scheme should be completed by Christmas 2019 subject to the unpredictable influences of weather and the surrounding coastal environment.

Cllr Mike Cockerill, Scarborough Borough Council Cabinet Member for Project Leadership, Harbours, Coast and Flood Protection said:

"This is a major engineering project for the Yorkshire coast, which is critical to reduce the risk of a deep seated landslip damaging or destroying properties located within the immediate South Cliff area. We would like to thank the local community for their cooperation during the planning and preparation stages and we will be working closely with Balfour Beatty to ensure we continue regular communication with them throughout the course of the scheme."

Stephen Semple, Balfour Beatty Managing Director for North & Midlands East Delivery Unit, said:

"We are delighted to be using our extensive coastal protection experience, gained through previous cliff stabilisation projects, to deliver this critical scheme for Scarborough Borough Council. The works we carry out will strengthen and improve the slopes below the Esplanade and behind the historic Scarborough Spa, to provide longer term protection for the local community."

Ed Hinton, Senior Advisor for Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency said:

"We’re pleased to be contributing more than £11m of government funding to this Scarborough Borough Council project, which will help protect 380 homes. We work closely with local authorities, providing advice and guidance, to help them plan for and manage coastal erosion. We look forward to working with the council on this and other future schemes to better protect local communities."

Cllr Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire County Council Executive Member for Access, said:

"The County Council is very pleased to be a partner in this essential scheme. Not only is our investment intended to protect our highway, but we wish also to support Scarborough Borough Council in giving local residents the reassurance that action is being taken to protect this part of the coast and the community nearby."