Member Article

Whitley Bay seafront regeneration making waves

North Tyneside Council has taken another step towards delivering multi-million pound regeneration improvements to Whitley Bay seafront.

At a meeting of the full council, members supported a decision to demolish the Boardwalk Cafe to make way for the expansion and enhancement of the Northern Promenade linking the beach to the new Plaza and Spanish City area.

These major improvements form part of a masterplan for the seafront area which looks to build on more than £60 million already invested by the council at the coast.

Much of this investment has already been in Whitley Bay and includes Waves, the Playhouse, Whitley Park, the Panama Skate Park and the Spanish City Plaza area.

Councillors heard from the organiser of a petition to save the Boardwalk Cafe and listened to the debate that followed.

They were told that the current cafe is a poor quality 1970s building; it is not a listed property and has no architectural or historic importance.

It was also stated that the decision to demolish is possible as a result of trading failures.

The cafe has not been a successful business for many years and two previous tenants have gone into liquidation owing creditors thousands of pounds, including more than £31.5k to North Tyneside Council.

The current occupier, who took over in 2014, has failed to make the required rent payments to the council and agreed to relinquish the lease last month and close the cafe.

There are other nearby cafes that offer refreshments to visitors and during fair weather a kiosk will be provided for beach and promenade users similar to the successful kiosk in Whitley Park. More cafe and restaurant facilities may also be provided in the restoration of the Spanish City Dome.

Members were also informed that a masterplan for the Whitley Bay Seafront area is currently being prepared and will be shared with residents by the end of the year.

The masterplan will draw together all existing and new leisure opportunities and will link in with the recently announced ‘Whitley Bay Big Local’ proposals for the town centre and adjacent seafront area.

This will ensure the proposals complement each other and deliver initiatives that restore a unique sense of place for Whitley Bay and re-establish it as a destination of choice for visitors and a high quality area for all of the borough’s residents to enjoy.

Elected Mayor, Norma Redfearn, said: “It is clear from talking to people from all parts of North Tyneside, and listening to their views that they are clearly supportive of the council’s plans to regenerate the coast, but they want to see work progress more quickly - they want us to get on with it.

“I’m pleased that the masterplan will soon be available to be shared with residents and businesses.

“In the meantime the demolition of the Boardwalk Cafe is a necessary and essential first step to opening up the Northern Promenade area and unlocking the improvements to Whitley Bay seafront that residents are expecting.

“When our work is complete, Whitley Bay will have a seafront to be proud of. As well as the stunning coastline and views it will have exceptional facilities that will attract more business, more investment and more visitors to North Tyneside.”

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