Whitley Bay promenade plans to go back on show

An artist's impression of how the promenade could look Credit: North Tyneside Council

Coastal residents are being invited to find out about new plans for a revised sea defence scheme in Whitley Bay.

North Tyneside Council went back to the drawing board for the scheme at the Central Lower Promenade, and said the new designs will save £1m.

The new proposals will involve strengthening and refurbishing the existingsea wall.

The lower walkway, which included the former retail units, will become anopen space with new seating, providing a great opportunity for leisureactivities and events.

The wide upper footway will be refurbished and enhanced while the designwill also include replacing the balustrades withlike-for- like replacements.

The project, which is subject to planning approval, will be carried out inpartnership with Hartlepool Borough Council which has completed similarcoastal promenade schemes to a high standard.

Residents will be able to look at the designs in greater detail at theexhibition events which will be held at the Whitley Bay Customer FirstCentre on Thursday October 20 from 3pm - 7:30pm, and again on Friday October 21 from 10:30am - 4pm.

An artist's impression of how the promenade could look Credit: North Tyneside Council

The original plan, which involved renewing the sea wall and replacing therest of the structure with a landscaped embankment, and proposed pricewas deemed unacceptable leading to a re-think.

Construction on the new scheme is expected to begin in spring 2017 andwork is likely to finish around six months later.

The structure, which acts as a vital sea defence, is nearly 100 years oldand is reaching the end of its serviceable life so needs to be replaced.The Central Lower Promenade scheme is part of the council’s £36mSeafront Master Plan to regenerate the coastline between St Mary’s Islandand Cullercoats Bay, which includes a major renovation of the Spanish Cityto restore it to its former glory.