WATCH: Scarborough Spa gardens have a new look as cliff stabilisation work ends

The ceremony to mark the completion of the scheme to stabilise the slope between Scarborough Spa and the Esplanade will include Cllr Steve Siddons, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council, Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, and representatives of engineering consultants Royal Haskoning and main contractor Balfour Beatty.

Local residents from the South Cliff community are also expected to attend.

The Scarborough Spa Slope Stabilisation Scheme began in May 2018, and involved piling along the rear of the Spa complex with almost horizontal drainage to address the deep seated failure of the slope, soil reinforcement (‘nailing’), and re-grading of the slope.

The work was essential to prevent the risk of a landslip.

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Other work has included relaying of cliff access paths and basic landscaping.

Stone retaining walls have been built, and gardens have been relandscaped, with planting of flowerbeds still to be done.

The initial cost of £13.45m rose to £16m, most of it covered by an £11.6m grant from Defra with the difference being made up by contributions from Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

In May 2018, Cllr Mike Cockerill, Scarborough Council Cabinet Member for Project Leadership, Harbours, Coast and Flood Protection, said: “This is a major engineering project and the works are critical for reducing the risk of a deep seated landslip damaging or destroying properties located within the immediate South Cliff area.”