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Debaters give 2010 thumbs up
SCARBOROUGH is a more attractive and popular resort than it was 100 years ago – and that's official.
The town was handed the boost during a public debate organised by The Friends of Scarborough Library and the Scarborough Forty Club, which featured more than 100 people who gave their overwhelming support to Scarborough in 2010.
The talk featured speeches from Mark Vesey and Jim Lawson, who argued the town was better in 1910, and Cllr Janet Jefferson and Adrian Riley, who proposed that modern-day Scarborough was a more attractive resort, with the meeting looking at the changing face of Scarborough throughout the last century.
Mr Vesey told the meeting at Scarborough Library that the town was living on an illustrious past.
He said: “Scarborough was at its peak 100 years ago but now lives on a faded glory.
“In 1910 we had the emergence of Peasholm Park, Marine Drive and Filey Road sports centre, which was called the Wimbledon of the North, and wonderful pollution-free trams running through the town.
“It was a better place to live, people believed in etiquette and talked to each other properly, councillors were described as men of distinction and sincere men with civic pride.”
Mr Lawson said he believed Scarborough in 2010 had lost a number of important factors that made it a success.
He said: “Things are not what they used to be, life should be getting better but it isn’t and we hear more complaining than ever before.
“One hundred years ago people lived in communities but there is an air of aimlessness and loneliness, coupled with too many traffic lights, over-zealous traffic wardens and the white elephant of the park and ride scheme.”
However, Janet Jefferson, Scarborough Council’s cabinet member for tourism and culture, said: “Visitors come from all over the country and the world and enjoy Scarborough.
“We have so many cultural attractions, from the Open Air Theatre to the Spa and The Rotunda to our links to the Sitwell family.
“Scarborough is the most enterprising town in Britain and has great facilities for youngsters.
“The Futurist is very important in the town and we have beautiful beaches, cliffs and gardens.
“More than 1.3 million extra people came here last year so we must be doing something right.”
Mr Riley, founder of Electric Angel Design, added: “Scarborough has inexhaustable optimism and a unique attitude.
“One hundred years ago life wasn’t so great for the people in the town and you shouldn’t be fooled by postcards of happy couples walking along the promenade, they were upper-class holiday-makers and not residents.
“Scarborough was a very important place in 1910, but nowadays it’s the Scarborough people making the big impression.”
The meeting attracted scores of comments from audience members who argued for and against the proposal.
John Rushton, 80, of Westbourne Grove, said: “Scarborough has a totally enviable heritage but after being the first seaside resort it has had to adjust downwards as others in the country caught on to the trend.
“The town should be imaginative with its history, we shouldn’t be wasting the Futurist and the Spa, and should put some of the wonderful artefacts from Woodend on display in them too.
“We live better than 100 years ago and the town is a thundering sight, better than it was in the past.”
Francis Walsh, 54, of Cromwell Parade, said: “I moved to the town to cement my commitment and enjoyment of Scarborough, its enterprise shines through and is at the heart of life and I only hope it continues.”
But Mandy Herrington, of Aberdeen Walk, said: “Years ago the Open Air Theatre was thriving and there was so much to do.
“We have problems with the Futurist, we lost the Corner Cafe and I worry about what we are going to have in 10 years’ time.”
l What do you think? Email us: letters@scarborougheveningnews.co.uk
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
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