Published Date:
15 April 2008

AN idyllic holiday cottage at Knipe Point, which has been teetering over the edge of a cliff for days, has finally been demolished.

All that remains is a pile of bricks as the country's media gathered to watch the house being knocked down at the private residential area near Cayton Bay, yesterday.

The owner of the bungalow is believed to be a retired farmer from Filey.

Bosses from the National Trust, which owns the land, say the unpredictable nature of the landslip could cause more houses to be torn down.

Residents could only watch on and wonder when their properties will be next.

Oakley Plant Ltd from Scarborough carried out the demolition which took eight hours to complete due to concerns about asbestos in the roof.

Terry Oakley said: "It was low grade asbestos and the specialists said it was OK to continue."

Workers had to call in specialists to look at the problem but they were given the go ahead to continue.

Neighbour Kevin Lloyd said: "This is such a terrible situation and obviously I am very worried.

"I have moved most of the furniture out of our house now and we know ours could be down for demolition any day.

"I still just cannot believe all this has happened. A year ago everything was fine and now I am seeing the house next door being torn down. It is just devastating."

Tony Charlesworth, 74, watched the demolition from his back garden. He said: "I never thought it would come to this. I moved here in 2006 and there was just no problem at all.

"I know my house will be one of the next ones to go. I am just hoping it is not too soon."

Oakley Plant Ltd is the same company which demolished the Holbeck Hall Hotel in 1993.

Mr Oakley said: "That was a terrible job for us and so is this.

"You just feel awful for the owners of the properties. Who knows if we will be coming back to do more of the houses. But they are getting very close to the edge."

What do you think? You can leave your comments below.

Page 1 of 1

Last Updated: 18 April 2008 2:58 PM
Source: n/a
Location: Scarborough

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Shrek,

Scarborough 16/04/2008 11:58:09

I really feel sorry for the residents, you cant help but feel where will it end? who will be next?

I just hope they find the cause of all this water seepage and able to divert the water away to harms way.

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lvh,

North East 16/04/2008 11:59:51

My parents live on this site. I do appreciate the interest of the media / public in this tragic circumstance but I do think that constant flow of reporters / camera crews and members of the public "just out for a look" is unacceptable it is effecting the lives of people who still have to live there and try to get on as normal. Put yourselves in their shoes!!!!!!!!!!

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Throxenby lad,

Norfolk 17/04/2008 12:33:28

I was brought up in Scarborough and remember the NALGO holiday chalets on the Knipe Point site. They were just holiday lets in simple accommodation, albeit in considerable numbers. As a schoolboy be learned that Scarborough derived its water supply from artesian well, at the nearby Cayton water works. We went there on a visit.

Could it be that there is a natural geological source of ground water that is finding its way under Knipe Point?

Ground water is the reason for the existence of the Spa, where the spa waters gave rise to the building of the Spa over 100 years ago.

It is easy to criticise planners for allowing full residential use of the Knipe Point site, but it is a beautiful spot. I would suggest though that any land near to the coastline at Scarborough needs to be looked at with caution and due regard to the underlying geological strata. Remember where it is that the twon gets its water supply from!

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Lady Taurus ,

Scarborough 17/04/2008 18:44:30

Ivh - I don't think there will be anyone living who would want to be in your parents shoes or anyone else's that live on this site. I'm sure everyone has a great deal of compassion and sympathy with all the residents under the threat of loosing there homes. It is heartbreaking.

I just hope all the media coverage will result in all the home owners getting a decent insurance pay off. To try and ease their suffering.

As for all the people who have just gone for a look, the very same thing happened when the Holbeck Hall fell down. We walk in that area often and I was shocked at the crowds there near the site. It upset me no end, so I can't imagine how the owners felt.

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