Scarborough's Cinder Track: £700,000 improvements could be made
The Borough Council could enter into an agreement with Sustrans
Improvements worth £700,000 could be carried out on the Cinder Track if funding from a national charity is approved by the local authority.
Scarborough Council could enter into an agreement with the Sustrans charity for £700,000 of funding that would go towards improvements to a 2.5km stretch of the “well-loved” Cinder Track between the villages of Cloughton and Burniston.
Scarborough Council’s cabinet will decide on Tuesday, January 17, whether to enter into a contract with Sustrans, which promotes sustainable transport options across the country
A report prepared for the upcoming meeting of the cabinet states that the overall standard of the Track, in particular its surface, has “deteriorated over the years and in many places it is now in poor condition”.
The track, which currently runs between Scarborough and Whitby, also forms part of the National Cycle Network Route 1 and the European North Sea Cycle Route.
In 2018, the council developed a restoration plan for the Cinder Track including “widening and resurfacing schemes for the urban sections of the track” from Whitby to Hawsker and Scalby to Scarborough.
According to the authority, a new bridge is also planned to improve access along the track between Burniston and Scalby.
Following the 2018 restoration plan and review, councillors called for external sources of funding to be investigated and the cabinet report notes that officers “have built a strong partnership with Sustrans”.
If the grant is accepted and the cabinet enters into a contract with the charity, the works will “ensure that the route will be usable in all conditions”, and would improve access to the track and its suitability for a wide range of users.
The report states that the improvements will be “sympathetic of its rural surroundings and take into account heritage, biodiversity and appearance”.
It adds: “Acceptance of this grant will also enable the Council to deliver a further comprehensive improvement project associated with local cycling and walking infrastructure as part of a move towards the development of sustainable transport options to support the Council’s climate change agenda.”