Plans to look at resurrecting the Peasholm Park Tree Walk in Scarborough have been scrapped.
Borough Councillors had backed calls last year for a feasibility study into resurrecting the historic attraction.
But now the idea has been dropped from the council's work plan.
Northstead Councillor - Guy Smith - is disappointed
The Tree Walk, or Tree Walk Wonderland as it was also known opened in 1953, it became an iconic attraction in the town eventually closing in 1990. The illuminated walk enable visitors to access the island in Peasholm Lake and featured a number of illuminated displays on the island as well as a lighting display around the waterfall.
The idea of bringing back the tree walk was first raised in November 2021 after the success of the Moonlight on the Lake event in the park.
In January last year the Borough Council's budget included £150,000 for a feasibility study into restoring and reinvigorating the tree walk but at a cabinet meeting in December the money was reallocated to undertake maintenance works in the park instead. The report presented to the cabinet said:
"Following an end of Season inspection of key areas within Peasholm Park it is evident that the timber decking on the Boat deck, Café veranda and Pagoda require replacement. Repairs and replacement works are also needed to aspects of the balustrades and supports within each of these areas; whilst the café would also benefit from works to the entrance doors.
The scope and specification for each of these elements are being drafted with a view to them being tendered shortly. The Boat deck decking replacement is an essential priority, as without this work being undertaken the safe operation of the facility may be compromised. It is hoped that the works to the Boat deck can be facilitated prior to Easter 2023.
The timber decking needs to be of good quality, with robust anti-slip properties, to ensure longevity in the wet environment it is sited.
The 2022 Financial Strategy earmarked £150k to progress feasibility works on Peasholm Tree Walk. Given that there are no longer term plans, or funding allocations, in place to progress any works identified in the feasibility study it is recommended that these monies now be utilised to fund the above works"
Chair of the Places and Futures Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Councillor Paul Riley - read a response from council officers at their recent meeting.
The recommendation from council officers is that any decision to look at reinstating the tree walk should now be made by the new North Yorkshire Council once it comes in to existence in April.
Councillor Paul Riley read their recommendation to the ONS committee.
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