Copyright thescarboroughnews
Observation Wheel UK wants to keep its 32m high observation wheel and 18-hole adventure golf course on a year-round basis until autumn 2027 at Scarborough’s seafront on Foreshore Road. The wheel was first installed in 2019 and has been limited to seasonal use from March to October at the site, which was formerly home to the Futurist Theatre. Members of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Planning Committee are set to discuss the proposal at a meeting on Thursday, November 13. If approved, continuous operation would be allowed without a winter tear-down. The daily opening hours would be from 11am to 9.30pm. Planners said that the “residual harm to the character and setting of adjacent heritage assets, which was previously deemed ‘less than substantial’ for the seasonal arrangement, remains acceptable when weighed against the public and economic benefits of securing continued vibrancy and a tourism offer on a cleared, brownfield site”. In addition to the 32m high observation wheel and ticket office, the 18-hole adventure crazy golf course would be mounted on a 300mm high metal deck. No objections to the development have been raised by the environmental health team or residents. However, the Highway Authority raised concerns about pedestrian safety in the area. It noted that the tactile crossing adjacent to the application site had been temporarily removed when the Futurist Theatre was demolished, and said that “the existing crossing arrangement is prejudicial to the safety and convenience of highway users”. It added: “The crossing should be reinstated as it is not safe to continue with the existing arrangement for a further two years.” Planning officers have said that a temporary permission until October 2027 would be “reasonable in light of the continued economic benefit and the likely lengthy lead-in time required for the permanent regeneration of the Futurist site”. Members of the public are invited to attend the planning meeting at 2pm on Thursday, November 13.
