Britain’s premier seaside resort is now a drug-ridden hellhole filled with tents lining the streets, residents say.
Thousands of visitors flocked to Scarborough’s two sandy beaches in North Yorkshire every summer.
But the town’s main street is now littered with boarded-up shops and has become a haven for anti-social behaviour, alcohol and recreational drugs.
Exasperated residents decry the rapid decline of the coastal town.
Vic Harris, a 70-year-old civil servant, said: “You just have to look around and you can see it.
“There are only vape shops, charity shops, budget shops and
shops closed. It looks like a city in decline and it just is
through neglect and a major lack of investment.
“It’s hard to believe that this place was once considered a major seaside resort.
and things seem to have gotten worse.
“There is a high level of violence, especially on weekends and there is
It is also a real drug problem that can be seen in the city centre and
also use recreational drugs at night.
“Antisocial behaviour is also a difficulty that people face.
“Unfortunately, it took some getting used to.”
The situation has escalated to the point that a municipal meeting was called last week to address a “general feeling of insecurity.”
The meeting was called by Councillor Rich Maw, who said he receives daily reports of public drinking, unruly behaviour, suspected drug abuse and bullying.
Residents also complain about noise and the number of tents scattered around the city.
The South Cliff area is particularly affected by the number of homeless people, some in dilapidated tents, hiding in bushes and other shelters.
Keeley Harris, 22, a social worker, said: “The amount of drug use in the city is crazy, both so-called recreational drugs like cocaine and people becoming addicted.
“It’s a big problem here and I’ve seen it with my own eyes because I have
“I had friends who had this problem.”
Scarborough became famous as a holiday destination in the 17th century, when Elizabeth Farrow discovered a stream of acidic water flowing down the cliff and into the sea at South Bay.
She discovered that the water had healing properties, acting in a similar way to stomach salts, before Dr Robert Wittie published a book on thermal waters in 1660.
‘Scarborough Spa’ was born and the town became Britain’s first seaside resort, eventually adding bathing machines in 1735.
The Grand Hotel, which once hosted the likes of Sir Winston Churchill
and the Beatles, was built later in 1876.
But the hotel is far from its glory days and has received a series of scathing reviews on TripAdvisor.
Meanwhile, North Yorkshire Police say they are working hard to tackle crime and disorder in the city.
A spokesperson added: “North Yorkshire Police are working in partnership with North Yorkshire Council in the town of Scarborough to tackle crime and disorder and to make it a safe space for residents, businesses and
visitors too.
“The night time economy is well managed by licensed premises thanks to the collective efforts of licensing departments within the police and council, working alongside the Scarborough Neighbourhood Policing Team.
“We have implemented a variety of operations around prevention and early detection.
intervention. These include Operation Vigilant, which involves
specialized behavior detection techniques to identify problematic behaviors
harm to women and girls, and “hotspot” police patrols using
intelligence services to suppress anti-social behaviour.
“We also have Operation Culture which focuses on street drinkers, which is a significant concern in our community.”
