Whitby Town Council

27/10/2026

Help shape the future of Whitby.

North Yorkshire Council is beginning work on a new Local Plan, which will help guide development across the county over the next 20 years.

The plan will have important implications for Whitby, including housing, transport, infrastructure, employment, tourism, and the protection of our town's unique historic character and natural environment.

This initial consultation is an opportunity for residents, businesses, and community organisations to highlight the issues that matter most to Whitby and help shape how the new plan is developed.

We encourage everyone with an interest in Whitby's future to have their say.

Further details and information on how to take part can be found in North Yorkshire Council's post below.

23/10/2026

Full Council will meet on Tuesday 27th October at 6pm in the Pannett Art Gallery, Pannett Park.

There is a busy agenda, with councillors due to consider a number of important matters affecting Whitby, including:

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire’s draft Local Transport Plan and the Council’s response to the consultation.

The Council’s finances and audit findings.

The future management and operation of Whitby’s public toilets.

Proposals for the Council’s future staffing structure.

Some matters will be considered in a confidential session towards the end of the meeting.

Members of the public are welcome to attend, and there will be an opportunity to raise questions or issues during the public participation session at the beginning of the meeting.

The full agenda and supporting papers are available here:

20/10/2026

Fantastic news for Pannett Art Gallery!

We're delighted to announce that Pannett Art Gallery has secured £11,130 in grant funding to help inspire Whitby's next generation of artists!

The funding has been awarded by Museum Development North following a highly competitive application process.

The exciting new project will see the gallery working with Whitby School, local creative professionals, and education specialists to develop learning resources inspired by the gallery's collections.

Young people will have more opportunities to explore original artworks, develop their creative skills, and discover the fantastic artistic heritage we have right here in Whitby.

The resources will be developed with input from local students and, once completed, will be freely available to schools, home educators, and community organisations, both at the gallery and online.

Whitby Town Council is proud to continue supporting and investing in Pannett Art Gallery, helping it develop new opportunities for local people and strengthen its place at the heart of our community.

A huge congratulations to Curator Helen Berry and the team on securing this fantastic award against such strong competition!

Work will begin shortly, with the new educational resources expected to be available from March 2027.

The funding has been awarded through Museum Development North's Museum Learning and Education Grant Programme, supported by Arts Council England and the UK Government.

19/10/2026

On Board Whitby's Fisheries Patrol Vessel

Whitby Town Councillors were recently invited aboard North Eastern Guardian IV in Whitby Harbour for a closer look at one of the most advanced fisheries patrol vessels operating around our coastline.

The 24.5-metre vessel, operated by the North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NEIFCA), patrols the coast between the Tyne and Humber. Capable of reaching 24 knots, it is equipped with sophisticated technology, including underwater cameras and acoustic survey equipment, to monitor marine habitats, assess fish and shellfish stocks, and support fisheries enforcement.

Built in 2025 by Whitby's own Parkol Marine Engineering Ltd, the vessel was the company's first aluminium catamaran and represents an important achievement for the town's shipbuilding industry.

Our thanks to Dean and Dylan for inviting councillors aboard, showing them around the vessel and explaining the important work undertaken by NEIFCA.

17/10/2026

Things Are Getting Wild at Pannett Art Gallery!

It was a pleasure to welcome guests to Pannett Art Gallery today for the preview of Wildings, a fascinating new exhibition by artist Ruby Tingle.

Inspired by the work of the Soper sisters and their remarkable artistic legacy, Wildings brings together art, nature, folklore, and the natural world. Following a year of research into the Pannett Art Gallery's collections and the landscapes that inspired them, Ruby has created a collection of new works exploring the connections between wildlife, mythology, and the environment.

Pannett Art Gallery is one of Whitby's most important cultural assets, and Whitby Town Council is proud of its role in maintaining and supporting the Gallery and funding the varied programme of exhibitions and activities that it offers throughout the year.

The Council's continued investment helps ensure that this wonderful gallery remains accessible to residents and visitors, while providing opportunities for artists to showcase their work and for audiences to experience something new.

Our thanks go to Ruby Tingle for sharing her remarkable work, and particularly to Helen, the Town Council's Curator, and the Gallery team, whose dedication, creativity, and hard work make exhibitions and events such as this possible.

Ruby Tingle - Wildings
17th October to 29th November 2026
Pannett Art Gallery, Pannett Park, Whitby

16/10/2026

Spooky Storytelling at Whitby's Historic Spa Well!

Whitby's Victoria Spa Well is opening its doors for a special afternoon of spooky storytelling on Tuesday 24th November.

Whitby Town Council has been working with the Pannett Art Gallery to bring this historic building into more regular use, and we're delighted that the Gallery has secured grant funding to make this first event possible.

Join author Amanda Mason for readings from her latest novel, The Dark, in the wonderfully atmospheric surroundings of the Spa Well on Broomfield Terrace.

Tuesday 24th November 2026
12 noon – 2.30pm

There will be three storytelling sessions:

1.00pm – 1.15pm

1.25pm – 1.40pm

1.50pm – 2.05pm

There will also be opportunities throughout the afternoon to look inside this beautiful and unusual historic building.

Admission is FREE, but places for the storytelling sessions are very limited and must be booked in advance.

To reserve your place, contact the Pannett Art Gallery:

Telephone: 01947 213201
Email: [email protected]

And don't forget to wrap up warmly - the Spa Well can be very cold in November!

16/10/2026

Whitby Community Alcohol Partnership - Residents Survey 2026

Whitby Community Alcohol Partnership is inviting local residents to share their views through its 2026 Residents Survey.

The partnership works to support young people in Whitby, promote positive activities and opportunities, address alcohol-related concerns and improve the quality of life for local residents.

The survey aims to help the partnership better understand the issues that matter to the community, identify local priorities and direct resources where they are most needed.

The survey takes no more than three minutes to complete, and residents are encouraged to take part.

Complete the survey here:

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

15/10/2026

Work Progresses on Whitby's New Whalebone Arch

Work is well under way on the replacement of Whitby's famous whalebone arch, with the new bronze replicas expected to be back in place on West Cliff early in 2027.

The original jawbones were removed in September after more than 20 years of exposure to the elements had left them badly deteriorated.

North Yorkshire Council had explored sourcing genuine replacement whale bones, but with suitable bones proving impossible to obtain, bronze replicas were chosen as a longer-lasting alternative.

These photographs show the work taking place to make moulds from the original jawbones, allowing the bronze replicas to reproduce their distinctive shape and detail as closely as possible.

The bronze is expected to be poured within the next month, with installation planned for early in the new year.

The £70,000 project is being funded and managed by North Yorkshire Council, with the support of Whitby Town Council.

We know how much the whalebone arch means to Whitby and how many people have missed seeing it on West Cliff. It's good to see progress being made towards bringing one of the town's best-known landmarks back to its familiar position overlooking the harbour and Whitby Abbey.

We'll keep you updated as work progresses.

12/10/2026

The Council's Finance, Governance & General Purposes Committee will meet tomorrow, Tuesday 13th October at 6pm, at Pannett Art Gallery.

There is a substantial agenda, with councillors due to consider a number of important matters affecting the Council and its services.

These include the Council's financial position at the halfway point of the financial year, the latest external and internal audit reports, an independent review of historic financial transactions involving the Council and the Pannett Art Gallery & Whitby Museum Charity, and the findings of a recent health and safety review.

The Committee will also consider proposals for surveys of Council buildings, the future management and operation of Whitby's public toilets when the current contract expires in July 2027, and proposals for the Council's future staffing structure.

Some matters involving confidential financial, contractual, and staffing information are expected to be considered in private session.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the public part of the meeting, which includes an opportunity to raise questions or matters of concern during the public participation period.

The full agenda and supporting reports are available here:

05/10/2026

Have your say on North Yorkshire Council’s budget priorities

North Yorkshire Council is inviting residents to take part in its annual ‘Let’s Talk Money’ consultation.

The survey gives you the opportunity to share your views on:

• Which council services and priorities are most important to you;
• How you think the Council’s budget should be spent;
• What level of Council Tax increase you think is appropriate; and
• The Council’s second homes premium, introduced in 2025

North Yorkshire Council provides a wide range of services, including adult and children’s social care, education, housing, leisure, highways, and waste collection. Your feedback will help inform their future budget decisions and priorities.

The consultation is open until 26th November 2026.

To find out more and complete the survey, visit the link below:

Take part in our countywide conversations to tell us your views and have your say.