LOCALS have declared their seaside town a “filthy dump” as tents line the streets and tourists fear for their lives.
Two golden sandy beaches in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, once voted this seaside resort the best in the UK.
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The town is now a shadow of what it used to be, say locals Credit: NB PRESS LTD
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The city center has several vacant unitsCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Anti-social behavior also plagues the areaCredit: NB PRESS LTD
Thousands of visitors flocked to this thriving seaside town all summer long, but now the area is a shadow of its former self, residents say.
In 2023, Time Out praised it as one of the best destinations in the UK.
However, disgruntled visitors defaced its “general air of filth” and warned other would-be tourists to “keep driving” past.
“The place needs a good cleaning,” read a scathing review on TripAdvisor.
Another scathing critic added: “The beach was dirty and the whole surrounding area littered and dirty.
“We last came here 15 years ago and it has changed dramatically from a vibrant seaside town to nothing more than a ‘dump’.”
While the beaches and traditional donkey rides along the coast still draw crowds every summer, tourists are advised to avoid cooling off in the sea.
The Environment Agency previously warned people against swimming in Scarborough’s south bay after harmful bacteria linked to human sewage was found in the water.
Earlier this summer, levels of E.coli bacteria in the sea in Scarborough South Bay jumped by almost 7,000 per cent and investigations are “ongoing”.
Tired locals slammed the steep decline of the coastal town.
We live in the UK’s hippest seaside town which is home to a ‘national treasure’ beach resort – but NO ONE can swim in it
Civil servant Vic Harris, 70, said: “You only have to look around to see it.
“There’s nothing but vape shops, charity shops, thrift shops and closed shops. It looks like a city in decline and that’s just because of neglect and a huge lack of investment.
“It’s hard to think that this was once considered a great resort, and things seem to have gotten worse.
“There is a high level of violence, especially at weekends, and there is a real drug problem that you can see in the city center as well as recreational drug use at night.
The amount of drug use in the city is crazy, it’s in terms of what they call recreational drugs like cocaine, but also people getting addicted
Keeley Harris Local resident
“Antisocial behavior is also a difficulty that people have unfortunately had to get used to.”
The situation has worsened to the point that a town hall meeting was called earlier to discuss the “general feeling of insecurity”.
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Vic Harris says Scarborough has been declining for years Credit: NB PRESS LTD
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Board shops in the city centerCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Scarborough is home to two sandy beaches Credit: NB PRESS LTD
The meeting was called by Councilman Rich Maw, who claimed to be receiving daily reports of public drunkenness, misconduct, suspected drug abuse and intimidation.
Locals also complained about the noise and the number of tents scattered around the city.
The South Cliff area has been particularly shaken by the number of rough sleepers, some in shabby tents, hiding in bushes and other shelters.
Carer Keeley Harris, 22, said: “The amount of drugs in the city is crazy, it’s in terms of what they call recreational drugs like cocaine, but also people becoming addicted.
“It’s a big problem here and I’ve seen it first hand because I’ve had friends go down that hole.”
A PROGRESSIVE TOURIST PLACE
Scarborough first became known as a hot vacation spot in the 17th century when Elizabeth Farrow discovered a stream of acid water flowing down a cliff and into the sea at South Bay.
She discovered that the water had medicinal properties, acting in the same way as stomach salts, before Dr. Robert Wittie published a book on the spa’s waters in 1660.
After that, “Scarborough Spa” was born and the town became Britain’s first seaside resort, eventually in 1735 bathing machines were added.
The Grand Hotel, which once hosted the Beatles as well as Sir Winston Churchill, was later built in 1876.
But the hotel is far from its prime and has received a number of scathing reviews on TripAdvisor.
Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police say they are working hard to tackle crime and disorder in the city.
A spokesman added: “North Yorkshire Police is working with North Yorkshire Council in Scarborough to tackle crime and disorder and to make it a safe place for residents, businesses and visitors.
“The nightlife economy is well managed by licensed premises thanks to the joint efforts of the licensing department within the police and borough working alongside the Scarborough Neighborhood Policing Team.
“We have a number of operations around prevention and early intervention. These include Operation Vigilant which involves specialist behavioral detection techniques to identify those who harm women and girls, and ‘hotspot’ police patrols which use intelligence to tackle anti-social behaviour.
“We also have Operation Culture which focuses on street drinkers which is a huge concern in our community.”
North Yorkshire Council had not responded with a comment at the time of publication.
Crime rate in coastal cities
SEA cities in the UK have an average of 19 per cent higher crime rates
Anti-Social Behavior (ASB) – Coastal towns have 33 per cent more crime than the UK average.
Violence and sexual offenses – Coastal towns have 34 per cent more crime than the UK average.
Criminal damage and arson – Coastal towns have 29 per cent more crime than the UK average.
Public order – Coastal towns have 14 percent more crime than the UK average.
Drugs – Coastal towns have 9 percent more crime than the UK average.
Shoplifting – Coastal towns have 30 per cent more crime than the UK average.
All other crime – Coastal cities have 13 per cent more crime than the UK average.
Overall crime – Coastal towns have 19 per cent higher crime than the UK average.
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Keeley Harris shares her concerns about rampant drug useCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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Scarborough was once one of the most attractive holiday destinations in the UKCredit: NB PRESS LTD
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