Furious locals fight to prevent their coastal city from being changed to the 'Las Vegas of the east coast' in the midst of controversial plans to make its last remaining High Street Bank a 24-hour casino.
Picturesque Whitby – where Bram Stoker found inspiration for his horrorroman dracula – is famous for its paved streets, picturesque shops and coastal charm.
But those who live in the fishing city of North Yorkshire are confronted with the prospect that the remaining bank is being transformed into a gambling location around the clock.
The Halifax branch in the historic center of the city will close mid -May, and the luxury leisure activities of the company unveiled plans to replace it with a 'adult gaming center'.
Officials from the town hall had recommended that the scheme would be approved because a vacant unit would remain in a prominent location.
The controversial plan led to a wave of indignation, with more than 500 objections and the Labor Member of the City who presented a petition to the parliament, encouraging North Yorkshire Council to throw away the scheme.
Council members rejected the scheme on Thursday as a planning meeting, after a local politician had warned: “If it has been approved, Whitby de Las Vegas of the East Coast becomes.”
However, Jeopardy still remains with a luxury leisure spot from the applicant who will probably appeal against the decision, because he has sworn to plow £ 500,000 to the project.
Picturesque Whitby – where Bram Stoker found inspiration for his horrorroman dracula – is famous for its paved streets, picturesque shops and coastal charm
The Halifax branch in the historic center of the city will close mid -May, with a luxury leisure release of the company to replace it with a 'adult gaming center'
Sam Dryden, 49, who runs an ice and souvenir shop K&S Dryden, with Father Ken, 74, said: 'The city dies a death and there are many empty buildings – but a casino is not what we need'
Against MailOnline, furious locals and business owners feared that a successful attraction of Whitby would ruin and attract the 'wrong crowd'.
Edith Harrison, 84, who has been living in the city for 20 years, said: 'People are very irritated.
'It's just not what we want or need. I'm dead against it. This is Whitby – it's not Las Vegas.
'It's bad enough to close the last bank. But to replace it with a 24-hour casino is terrible.
'There are many older people in Whitby who really don't want it.
'What we need are more stores, for the people who actually live here all year round.
“People seem to forget that it is not all holiday homes – there are many people who call Whitby home and they seem to be forgotten.”
Many fear if the location, if successfully its attraction to the planning inspection, will attract noisy crowds and will continue the city of his traditional charm.
Edith Harrison, 84, who has been living in the city for 20 years, said: “People are very irritated”
Alan Landers, 59, who runs Whitby Butchers, directly opposed the proposed location, said: 'It's not good for this street – it is to be honest the last thing we need.
'There will be train loads that come down from Middlesbrough, drink all night and end up in the casino until the morning.
'I don't want my customers to pop up and have to be confronted with that.
“If you want a casino, you can go to a big city – not a small, picturesque fishing village.”
Mr. Landers feared: 'Whitby's lost his identity. In the past, this street flourished with independent stores. Now we are alone, the baker's and the VEG shop left. Now they are all charity stores. '
Outside the Halifax, who closes its doors on 15 May, James and Julie Richardson also expressed their worries.
Julie, 72, said: 'Whitby is a place for families, for heritage, for history. The last thing we need is a 24-hour gokhol that encourages people to throw away their money.
'It's completely out of character for our city.
Alan Landers, 59, who runs Whitby Butchers directly against the proposed location, said: 'It's not good for this street – it is frankly the last thing we need'
Many fear that the location will attract noisy crowds and strip the city of its traditional charm further
“It's bad enough with drinking. I don't get to the city center at the weekend because it can just be a massacre. I am too old and it scares me.
'We used to be a fishing village, now it's all about tourism, second houses and vacation -hiring. It is no longer the same. It's not peaceful. '
Les Wetherill, 72, added: 'We don't need a casino – we need something decent.
'They are all charities and chip shops in Whitby, there is nothing for the locals. It's just not what we need. '
Sam Dryden, 49, who runs an ice and souvenir shop K&S Dryden, with Father Ken, 74, said: 'The city dies a death and there are many empty buildings – but a casino is not what we need.
“This city is not for it. The only thing it will serve is to bring in recognitions and that is not what we want here. We want families to end up on the coast for a day.
'We need stores, not gambling.
'Nobody comes from a casino with the money they entered. That is money that would otherwise be spent elsewhere in the city. '
Labor Member of Parliament Alison Hume raised the issue on Tuesday in Parliament and stated that the local population was 'particularly disappointed that the site of the proposed gaming center that is of the Halifax Bank branch, which will close soon, leaving the city without bank branches'
Les Wetherill, 72, shown, added: 'We don't need a casino – we need something decent'
Officials argued that keeping the building into use will benefit the economy and the footstep of the city center, even if the loss of a bank is 'regrettable'.
Darren Marshall, 62, warned that allowing gambling location would damage the reputation of the city as a family -friendly destination.
He said: 'It is for the 18+ market and in my opinion it is not particularly welcome. It would be a shame for this city.
'This is the most important shopping street for people who live in Whitby. Stores close and will be replaced by things that people who live and work here do not want.
'It will attract the kind of visitor to the city that does not want it or needs it.
'The visitors are important, but we must also have an infrastructure for the residents.
Labor Member of Parliament Alison Hume raised the issue on Tuesday in Parliament and stated that the local population “was mainly disappointed that the site of the proposed gaming center that is of the Halifax Bank branch, which will soon be closed, leaving the city without bank branches.”
A spokesperson for Luxury Precessure defended the proposal and insisted that there would be no noisy entertainment arcade equipment that attracts under the age of 18 and has an impact on the facility. “
Darren Marshall, 62, depicted, warned that allowing gambling location would damage the reputation of the city as a family -friendly destination as a family -friendly destination
They said that the company would invest £ 500,000 in the building, create a dozen jobs and 'ensure footsteps in the city center'.
During the planning meeting there were 523 objections and only six support.
Advertising that the application is called up, said CLLR Derek Bastiman: 'It will fully detract from Whitby, who enjoys visitor numbers 52 weeks a year and I cannot see an advantage for the city or the wider area.
“If it is approved, Whitby de Las Vegas will become the east coast.”
CLLR Janet Jefferson added: 'As soon as you open the locks, it will be.
“I just think it's not the right place. Whitby is unique and we have to maintain that. There is no way in which the place can be checked 24/7 and I will not support this. '
Luxury leisure has 12 weeks to decide whether they want to appeal.
Bram Stoker took inspiration from Whitby after a stay in 1890. The 199 steps to the abbey too.
