Whitby market: Investigation launched after damage to listed buildings and 'potential breaches of regulations'

Last week, Whitby Town Council passed a motion over “potential serial breaching of market regulations” and reported damage to listed buildings following concerns by residents and traders.

It requested that members of the town council and North Yorkshire Council officers conduct a site visit to investigate the potential breaches at Whitby market which is located in front of the Grade II* Listed Old Town Hall building.

However, North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for economic development, regeneration, tourism and skills, David Caulfield, said: “We have not yet received any correspondence on this matter from Whitby Town Council.”

He said: “We take any breaches of the market regulations seriously and will work with the town council to investigate information it has regarding such incidences.”

The potential breaches of the market regulations are said to include issues around parking and causing obstructions, reporting of accidents, and bringing the market into disrepute.

Coun Asa Jones, who put forward the motion, said: “Throughout the meeting, I got the sense that this is a bigger issue than just damage from market traders’ vehicles, as reports of possible damage from NYC vehicles and other delivery vehicles servicing nearby businesses were heard.

"What is clear is that we won’t have a full understanding of the issue until at least after this site visit takes place with NYC officers, if not later. However, the breaches of market regulations which I have had reported to me have not been limited to vehicle-related issues.”

He added he wanted answers from the council and was “not investigating” local traders and businesses.