Withernsea

History

Like many seaside resorts, Withernsea has a wide promenade which reaches north and south from Pier Towers, the historic entrance to the pier, built in 1877 at a cost of £12,000. The pier was originally 399 yards (365 metres) long, but was gradually reduced in length through several impacts by local ships, starting with the Saffron in 1880 before the collision by an unnamed ship in 1888, again by a Grimsby fishing boat and again by the Henry Parr in 1893, leaving the once grand pier with a mere 50 feet (15 metres) of damaged wood and steel, which was removed in 1903. The Pier Towers have been refurbished.

During the mid-19th century the Hull and Holderness Railway was constructed, connecting the nearby city of Hull with Withernsea (via Keyingham and Patrington) and making possible cheap and convenient holidays for Victorian workers and their families, as well as boosting Withernsea's economy. It closed in 1964 and all that remains of it is an overgrown footpath where the track used to be.

Withernsea, like many British resorts, has suffered from a decline in the number of visiting holidaymakers.

Economy

Following an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Proudfoot Supermarket, Tesco opened a competing store which originally struggled to attract sales. Tesco resorted to a campaign of price flexing, offering customers £8 off for every £20 spent in their Withernsea branch. This led to an investigation by the Competition Commission. After their market share increased, Tesco prices returned to a level closer to the national average. Subsequently Aldi took over the former Proudfoot supermarket, and are now offering very competitive opposition to Tesco. Meanwhile, the Withernsea Town Council has bought a former pub and nightclub, centrally located opposite Aldi, and has renamed it the Meridian Centre. A lottery bid for over £400,000 - Reaching Communities building fund - has been successful, and the building is now being refurbished to provide a community centre, including a cinema and performing arts venue.

There is a 9-hole golf course and leisure centre complex (with a gym and indoor pool) and a variety of pubs and restaurants are situated around the centre of the town.

Landmarks

Some of the town's better-known tourist attractions and landmarks include:

Media

The area is served by BBC Radio Humberside, Viking FM, Seaside FM, Capital Yorkshire, KCFM & Magic 1161. Ofcom awarded Seaside FM a community radio licence to broadcast to the town on 105.3 MHz and the station launched on 5 October 2007 from studios at 27 Seaside Road. Weekly newspaper The Holderness Gazette also has offices on Seaside Road.

Education

There are a number of primary school located in Withernsea which serve the surrounding area. Withernsea High School is the main secondary provider and also includes a sixth form. There is also a technology college there. The high school known as "Withernsea High school and Technology College" has been refurbished in 2015.

Public services

Withernsea has its own hospital owned by the NHS which was subject to services cuts and lost its Accident and Emergency Department facility, it is now a community hospital. Withernsea has five emergency service stations located within the town, Yorkshire Ambulance Service; Humberside Fire and Rescue Service; Humberside Police; Her Majesty's Coastguard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution station.

Notable people

Withernsea Town Council

Withernsea Town Council has been in existence since 1986 and contains 11 councillors; 5 from the North Ward and 6 from the South. Preceding the Town Council was the Withernsea Parish Council which existed from 1984-1986 and preceding that was the Withernsea Urban District Council which existed from 1898-1974.

The current Mayor of Withernsea is Cllr. Matthew Lloyd who has been Mayor since May 2016 and his current term ends in May 2017. The Deputy Mayor is Cllr. Terry Dagnell.

The next full council election is due to take place in 2019 when all councillors will be up for election. Here are the results of the last full council election and the subsequent by-elections:

For the North Ward the following were elected: Anne Blake, Gordon Mervyn Hodgson, Terry Render, John Windas, and Stewart Winters.

For the South Ward the following were elected: Brian Michael Cloke, Keith Hardcastle, Michael Kevan Hough, Georgie Owens, Patrick Michael Spicer, and Stuart Woodruff.

A by-election for the North ward was called following the resignation of Terry Render.

The following was elected for the North Ward: Callum Hollingworth.

A by-election was called for the South Ward following the resignation of Stuart Woodruff.

The following was elected in the South Ward by-election: Fiona Edgington.

A by-election was called for the South Ward following the resignation of Michael Kevan Hough.

The following was elected for the South Ward: Matthew Lloyd.

A by-election for the North Ward was called following the resignation of John Windas

The following was elected for the North Ward: Dave Edwards.

A by-election for the South Ward was called following the resignation of Fiona Garnett (née Edgington)

The following was elected for the South Ward: John Michael Tasker.

The full council elections due to be held on 7 May were unconstested.

Terry Dagnall, Keith Hardcastle, Matthew Lloyd, Patrick Michael Spicer and John Tasker were subsequently elected. Brian Cloke was co-opted to fill the sixth seat.

Pete Barker, Dave Edwards, Silvia Lafleur and Stewart Anthony Winters were duly elected. Gary Chambers was co-opted to fill the fifth seat.

A by-election for the North Ward was called following the resignation of Pete Barker.

Patrick Wilkinson was duly elected. Note when he was elected he was the youngest Councillor in the UK aged just 18 years and 43 days old.

A by-election was called following the resignation of Gary Chambers

Darren England was duly elected

A by election was called following the resignation of Patrick Spicer

A by-election was called following the resignation of Silvia LaFleur and Darren England.

Lucy Carter and Felicity Walmsley were duly elected.