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RECENT HAPPENINGS see below. FUTURE MEETINGS >  CLICK HERE

The combined Zoom meeting between our own Scarborough Rotary Club and the Scarborough Cavaliers Rotary Club from North Yorkshire in UK. as reported by their President Jim.

President Jim opened the meeting and welcomed all the Cavaliers gave special thanks to Dave Taylor from our Club and Geoff Mountfield from the Cavaliers for their organization and planning of tonight's meeting. At one stage there were 52 participants connected to the meeting.

President Jim welcomed Cavaliers President Tony Graham and the 17 members from the Cavaliers, as well as our own members and guests. Our President Jim Joseph's guests included PP Paul Levi now living in Israel, past RYE Student Damian Scherrer Zooming in from Switzerland, Rosco McGlashan who is challenging for the World Land Speed Record with his jet powered vehicle "Aussie In-Vader", PP Des Cousins, President Brian Butterworth from the Mindarie Club, PP Jan Trenordan from Wyallkatchem, past member RCS Jim Brown, PDG Patricia Canning and Jeromy Jones from WA Police Quarantine and Isolation Team.

In the absence of PDG Fred Marsh, Pres Jim then gave a brief overview of the 20 year history between our two clubs. Commencing in 1998, the friendship has culminated in a total of 3 visits by our Club to the UK, and 2 visits by Scarborough Cavaliers to Perth. A perpetual shield, named the 'Percival Shield', in honour of RCS PP George Percival, was made of WAjarrah and embedded with a silver coin from our Perth Mint, as well as a black pearl from the Yorkshire in the UK. That shield was proudly shown during the meeting by Chris Case of the Cavaliers.

A program had been drawn up by both Dave Taylor from our Club and Geoff Mountfield from the Scarborough Cavaliers, whereby members from both Clubs would talk about how the Coronavirus had impacted on each country and location ... current situation re number of cases, deaths, regulations relating to Covid-19 such as social distancing, food shortages, shortage of PPE, stay at home rules etc.

Geoff Mountford, Richard Creasy and Dr Venks from the Cavaliers spoke about the vast numbers of cases reported, 1,069 in North Yorkshire alone with 649 deaths; the 60 Pounds fines issued to those who break the quarantine requirements; and the proposal to test 100,000 per day being. Plenty of masks and scrubs are available.

Mike McAuliffe gave details of our situation in Australia, and in WA specifically. He mentioned that we had 551 confirmed cases in WA, 11 active, 6 hospitalized. He also gave the population number in Perth and the whole of Australia for comparison for the UK visitors, and talked about our State and District Borders being closed for the foreseeable future.

Guy Lehmann, Andrew Fisher and Geoff Ivar gave details of how the virus had affected their businesses and their own clients. Gordon Hudson gave an overview of how the virus had affected our signature (wheelchair) project WFK.

Guest Police Officer Jeromy Jones spoke about the virus from a policing point of view - we would be fined $1000 if we did not obey quarantine requirements of isolation when arriving in WA. Members of his Police Quarantine and Isolation Team are required to ensure everyone follows strict isolation orders and that if anyone tested positive they could select where to spend the 14 days of isolation.

PP Paul Levi gave an interesting talk about what is happening in his country Israel, and Damian Scherrer gave an overview of the situation in Switzerland.

Rosco McGlashan talked about his jet car 'Aussie Invader', and his quest to become the first man to achieve 1000mph and to break the World Land Speed Record which, coincidentally, is held by an Englishman! His talk raised many questions from the Cavaliers.

Cavaliers members responded with their own experiences, and many questions flowed between members of both Clubs.

The interaction between the members of both Clubs was very enjoyable.

It was a wonderful meeting between two sister Clubs, where the friendship has developed over many years and many visits between us. President Jim thanked all of the Cavaliers and our many guests and closed the meeting at8.30pm.

Richard outlined the work of The Town Centre Executive working to plan our longer term town environment- and to engage the people of Scarborough in their planning. (There is parallel activity by The Town Deal engaged in a bid for £25m for the Scarborough Urban Area).
The work of the Executive is to support the longer term strategic objectives to build the success of Scarborough Town Centre as a vibrant, mixed use centre for all stakeholders, investors and the community aiming to:-

·         Be the best performing coastal town centre in England by 2025 and the primary economic hub for retail, leisure, learning and living within the Yorkshire coast area.

·         Increase residential living within our town centre by 25% by 2025

·         Work together with public and private property owners and agencies to ensure the built environment and infrastructure exceeds the expectations of our customers and community by 2025.

The activity is based around seven key themes:
1: Making the town a mixed use environment
2: Creating an  inviting public realm we can be proud of
3: Developing a university town
4: Night time economy
5: Introduce SMART town centre infrastructure
6: Build our identity, image and brand
7: Establish a collaborative and supportive town centre community
We are told that Scarborough is one of the most visited places in the Country but there is little evidence to support that being to the Town Centre. A lot of people prefer to shop in York and some in Malton, Whitby, Hemsley, Northallerton , Hull & Beverley. Many comment that the town centre is scruffy; some lament the passing of good specialist shops; and the cost of short term parking.

Examples of transformations to aspire to might include The Grove, Ilkley one of the most attractive shopping street in Yorkshire and from many years ago and more to the scale of Scarborough the transformation which was Magdelen Street, Norwich.

The Executive Team are keen to hear the views of the public – various specifics/ideas have come to light and may stimulate you to come up with more suggestions, comments or ideas ALL are WELCOME:-

·         20 Charity Shops in our Town Centre may be too many?

·         Re-develop the Argos block on Newborough into a town square and as well create student accommodation for Coventry University and the Hull/York Medical School

·         A multiplex cinema in the Town Centre

·         Roof over Huntriss Row (reminiscent of the arcades in Leeds)

·         Explore ways of connecting The Railway Station and the SJT with the rest of the Town.

·         Develop the (shopping) attractions of Victoria Road and Dean Road.

·         Reposition the Museum & Art Gallery into the Town Centre - or maybe develop a museum of the seaside, or attract a national museum/art gallery (e.g. The Tate in St Ives)

Richard Grunwell
SEND FEEDBACK and IDEAS TO :- regeneration@scarborough.gov.uk