Warning over £200,000 repair bill for Whitby landmark
Whitby’s museum and art gallery could require £200,000 of major repairs and infrastructure work next year, a new report has revealed.
Whitby Museum and Pannett Art Gallery may need £200,000 in repairs and infrastructure upgrades as concerns grow over the condition of one of the town’s most important heritage buildings.
The figure represents a dramatic increase on the current repairs and maintenance budget and follows warnings that substantial investment will be needed to address the condition of the building.
A report to councillors states that “substantial investment is required in the building’s infrastructure” and confirms that a series of specialist surveys have now been commissioned to identify the scale of the work required.
The investigations include a full building condition survey, asbestos surveys, measured building surveys, and specialist mechanical and electrical assessments.
The findings will be used to inform future investment decisions and help determine the full long-term cost of maintaining the building.
The proposed budget for 2027/28 includes £200,000 for major repairs and infrastructure improvements, compared with £18,000 currently allocated for general repairs and maintenance.
The papers also indicate that borrowing may be required to fund future works.
According to the report, building-related income during 2025/26 totalled £96,911 against expenditure of £154,685. The budget papers calculate a net subsidy requirement of £27,201 for the building’s operation.
A recent audit also established that the building’s water supply had historically served facilities within Pannett Park, with separate water meters now installed to provide more accurate monitoring of consumption.
An invoice for £19,562 will also be sent to North Yorkshire Council after a specialist audit recently concluded that water charges linked to the Market Place public toilets in Whitby may have been wrongly billed to the town council.
The claim emerged during a detailed review of historic water bills and meter readings, which town councillors were told had identified thousands of pounds in charges that should not have fallen to Whitby Town Council.
Councillors were set to discuss the museum and art gallery’s proposed budget and future investment requirements at a meeting that was scheduled to be held this week but has since been cancelled.