Whitby Residents Fight to Save Iconic Cliff Lift from Closure

In a move that has sparked outrage among the local community, the iconic Whitby cliff lift in North Yorkshire has been closed since 2022 due to the discovery of structural corrosion. The North Yorkshire Council has since requested £600,000 to start "necessary works" at the site, including a proposal to fill in the lift entirely.

However, a local councillor, Phil Trumper, has started a petition to "see how passionate people were" about saving the beloved landmark. Trumper hopes there will be a "proper public consultation" to ensure that "members of the community can basically say what they want to happen." He has also spoken with the mining company Anglo American, which has expressed willingness to investigate more cost-effective repair options.

Meanwhile, the council's corporate director for environment, Karl Battersby, has stated that the cost of repairing the lift would be "significant" and may not permanently fix the problem. The council has also said there was "no consultation proposed in relation to the decision to infill the cliff lift." This has drawn criticism from residents like Linda Wild, a member of Whitby Town Council, who said closing the lift permanently would "cut off anyone who's not 100% fit or has young children."