Investing in Scarborough

We are working together with a number of groups and partnerships to drive forward real improvements in Scarborough. The work focuses on specific challenges, including:

• the look and feel of the town centre
• making people feel safer
• identifying how services can be better joined up to support our most vulnerable residents

Get involved in a community clean up event

Most people get rid of rubbish responsibly and look after their local area, but if you spot graffiti or you know about an area where litter is a persistent problem, please report it to our street cleaning team.

We can provide equipment and advice to voluntary groups or individuals who want to organise community clean up events. More information is available on our community litter pick page.

If you would like to help keep Scarborough tidy, you can join one of the many litter picking events that are taking place - view the events.

Improving the look and feel of Scarborough town centre

We have joined with residents, businesses and voluntary organisations for a significant programme of improvement work in Scarborough to boost civic pride, revitalise run-down areas and encourage more people to visit the town.

The initiative follows confirmation from the government that the area will receive almost £20 million of funding as part of a national programme to bring major investment to towns across the country.

Previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns, it has been rebranded as the Plan for Neighbourhoods with an expanded remit to improve health and wellbeing along with work, productivity and skills.

As part of the programme, we have carried out a consultation process called ‘Let’s Talk Scarborough’ to identify people’s priorities. More than 60 percent of people who responded thought there was a need for a town centre that looked better, felt safer, and was more welcoming, with tidier shopfronts and well-maintained public spaces.

As a result, we have committed council funding to ensure progress is made in the interim period before proposals under the Plan for Neighbourhoods take shape, with over £200,000 allocated to a range of improvements which include:

• investment in state-of-the-art cleaning equipment to tackle problem areas more effectively
• support for community-led activity and initiatives
• brightening up public spaces with vibrant flower and shrub planting
• providing a town centre caretaker
• commissioning a large-scale mural to celebrate Scarborough’s identity and create a new town centre landmark
• improving shopfronts and bringing empty units back into use
• installing new litter bins and benches, and refreshing existing street furniture

Work is also underway on developing a new town centre design guide to help make sure building improvements and the wider public realm reflect the unique character of Scarborough. The aim is to support high-quality changes that fit in with the town’s look and feel, especially in areas with historic significance.

In addition to work routinely carried out in the resort, the programme includes more than 30 projects that boost civic pride, support local businesses, and create a cleaner, and more welcoming place for everyone.

Big Spring Clean – March 2025

Our staff, along with partner organisations, businesses and more than 70 volunteers also joined forces for two days of community action in March to help give the town centre a big spring-clean. This consisted of:

• 500 square metres of green space being tidied up by weeding, pruning and planting flowers
• 745 metres of railings were given a fresh coat of paint
• 20 bags of litter were collected with the help of Keep Scarborough Tidy and North Yorkshire Police Cadets
• council staff carrying out routine cleaning and jet washing of pedestrianised areas and pavements throughout the town centre, as well as the removal of graffiti and chewing gum