Whitby Town Council

17/10/2026

Things Are Getting Wild at Pannett Art Gallery!

It was a pleasure to welcome guests to Pannett Art Gallery today for the preview of Wildings, a fascinating new exhibition by artist Ruby Tingle.

Inspired by the work of the Soper sisters and their remarkable artistic legacy, Wildings brings together art, nature, folklore, and the natural world. Following a year of research into the Pannett Art Gallery's collections and the landscapes that inspired them, Ruby has created a collection of new works exploring the connections between wildlife, mythology, and the environment.

Pannett Art Gallery is one of Whitby's most important cultural assets, and Whitby Town Council is proud of its role in maintaining and supporting the Gallery and funding the varied programme of exhibitions and activities that it offers throughout the year.

The Council's continued investment helps ensure that this wonderful gallery remains accessible to residents and visitors, while providing opportunities for artists to showcase their work and for audiences to experience something new.

Our thanks go to Ruby Tingle for sharing her remarkable work, and particularly to Helen, the Town Council's Curator, and the Gallery team, whose dedication, creativity, and hard work make exhibitions and events such as this possible.

Ruby Tingle - Wildings
17th October to 29th November 2026
Pannett Art Gallery, Pannett Park, Whitby

16/10/2026

Spooky Storytelling at Whitby's Historic Spa Well!

Whitby's Victoria Spa Well is opening its doors for a special afternoon of spooky storytelling on Tuesday 24th November.

Whitby Town Council has been working with the Pannett Art Gallery to bring this historic building into more regular use, and we're delighted that the Gallery has secured grant funding to make this first event possible.

Join author Amanda Mason for readings from her latest novel, The Dark, in the wonderfully atmospheric surroundings of the Spa Well on Broomfield Terrace.

Tuesday 24th November 2026
12 noon – 2.30pm

There will be three storytelling sessions:

1.00pm – 1.15pm

1.25pm – 1.40pm

1.50pm – 2.05pm

There will also be opportunities throughout the afternoon to look inside this beautiful and unusual historic building.

Admission is FREE, but places for the storytelling sessions are very limited and must be booked in advance.

To reserve your place, contact the Pannett Art Gallery:

Telephone: 01947 213201
Email: [email protected]

And don't forget to wrap up warmly - the Spa Well can be very cold in November!

16/10/2026

Whitby Community Alcohol Partnership - Residents Survey 2026

Whitby Community Alcohol Partnership is inviting local residents to share their views through its 2026 Residents Survey.

The partnership works to support young people in Whitby, promote positive activities and opportunities, address alcohol-related concerns and improve the quality of life for local residents.

The survey aims to help the partnership better understand the issues that matter to the community, identify local priorities and direct resources where they are most needed.

The survey takes no more than three minutes to complete, and residents are encouraged to take part.

Complete the survey here:

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

15/10/2026

Work Progresses on Whitby's New Whalebone Arch

Work is well under way on the replacement of Whitby's famous whalebone arch, with the new bronze replicas expected to be back in place on West Cliff early in 2027.

The original jawbones were removed in September after more than 20 years of exposure to the elements had left them badly deteriorated.

North Yorkshire Council had explored sourcing genuine replacement whale bones, but with suitable bones proving impossible to obtain, bronze replicas were chosen as a longer-lasting alternative.

These photographs show the work taking place to make moulds from the original jawbones, allowing the bronze replicas to reproduce their distinctive shape and detail as closely as possible.

The bronze is expected to be poured within the next month, with installation planned for early in the new year.

The £70,000 project is being funded and managed by North Yorkshire Council, with the support of Whitby Town Council.

We know how much the whalebone arch means to Whitby and how many people have missed seeing it on West Cliff. It's good to see progress being made towards bringing one of the town's best-known landmarks back to its familiar position overlooking the harbour and Whitby Abbey.

We'll keep you updated as work progresses.

12/10/2026

The Council's Finance, Governance & General Purposes Committee will meet tomorrow, Tuesday 13th October at 6pm, at Pannett Art Gallery.

There is a substantial agenda, with councillors due to consider a number of important matters affecting the Council and its services.

These include the Council's financial position at the halfway point of the financial year, the latest external and internal audit reports, an independent review of historic financial transactions involving the Council and the Pannett Art Gallery & Whitby Museum Charity, and the findings of a recent health and safety review.

The Committee will also consider proposals for surveys of Council buildings, the future management and operation of Whitby's public toilets when the current contract expires in July 2027, and proposals for the Council's future staffing structure.

Some matters involving confidential financial, contractual, and staffing information are expected to be considered in private session.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the public part of the meeting, which includes an opportunity to raise questions or matters of concern during the public participation period.

The full agenda and supporting reports are available here:

05/10/2026

Have your say on North Yorkshire Council’s budget priorities

North Yorkshire Council is inviting residents to take part in its annual ‘Let’s Talk Money’ consultation.

The survey gives you the opportunity to share your views on:

• Which council services and priorities are most important to you;
• How you think the Council’s budget should be spent;
• What level of Council Tax increase you think is appropriate; and
• The Council’s second homes premium, introduced in 2025

North Yorkshire Council provides a wide range of services, including adult and children’s social care, education, housing, leisure, highways, and waste collection. Your feedback will help inform their future budget decisions and priorities.

The consultation is open until 26th November 2026.

To find out more and complete the survey, visit the link below:

Take part in our countywide conversations to tell us your views and have your say.

28/09/2026

Have your say - Home to School Travel Policy

North Yorkshire Council is consulting on proposed changes to its Home to School Travel Policy, following a review of the changes introduced in 2024.

The proposals include changes aimed at improving route information and mapping, strengthening the appeals process, providing greater clarity about how routes and distances are assessed, and improving information and guidance for families.

The consultation is open until 4th November 2026.

Parents, carers, young people, and other interested residents are encouraged to read the proposals and share their views.

Find out more and take part in the consultation:

Let us know what you think of proposed changes to our Home to School Travel Policy following our post implementation review.

25/09/2026

Whitby Town Council Confers Highest Civic Honour on RAF Fylingdales

Whitby Town Council has formally agreed to bestow the Honorary Freedom of the Town – the highest civic honour available to the Council – upon RAF Fylingdales.

The historic decision recognises RAF Fylingdales’ distinguished contribution to the defence and security of the UK and its allies, as well as the close relationship between the Station and Whitby which has developed over more than six decades.

Town Mayor, Cllr Sandra Turner, said the honour celebrates “a friendship and bond between the Station and the town which has endured from one generation to the next.”

A formal ceremony and Freedom Parade are now planned for 2027, when RAF Fylingdales will be invited to parade through the streets of Whitby with colours flying, bands playing, drums beating, and bayonets fixed.

Read the full story:

25/09/2026

Share Your Views on Coastal Futures

The University of Hull’s Shifting Shores project is inviting Whitby residents of all ages to take part in a community workshop exploring coastal resilience and the future of our coastline.

Working in collaboration with North Yorkshire Council, the project is looking at how the lived experiences, knowledge and views of coastal communities can be better reflected in future planning, policy and decisions about managing our coastline.

The Whitby workshop will use an interactive game, including cards and maps, to get people talking about what coastal change and resilience mean for Whitby and its community.

📅 Friday 9th October 2026
🕔 5pm–7pm
📍 54 North, Whitby & District Fishing Industry Training School

Light refreshments will be provided, and participants will receive a £20 thank-you voucher.

The workshop is open to Whitby residents of all ages, and the Shifting Shores team is particularly keen to hear from people with a wide range of experiences, backgrounds and connections to the area.

Interested in taking part?

You can register using the QR code on the poster or if you would prefer not to register online, call 01482 466561 and a member of the project team can register your interest for you.

Registration does not guarantee a place; the project team will invite a varied group of participants to ensure a broad range of views and experiences are represented.

24/09/2026

Scarborough & Whitby Area Committee – Meeting in Whitby

North Yorkshire Council’s Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee will meet at Whitby Pavilion on Wednesday 30th September at 10am.

The meeting provides an opportunity for issues affecting Whitby and the wider area to be considered by North Yorkshire councillors.

Items on the agenda include:

An annual update from David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire;

Attendance by Alison Hume MP;

An update from Yorkshire Water on its investment plans for Scarborough and Whitby and its public consultation;

The North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum report into the 2025 Fylingdales Moor fire;

An update on North Yorkshire Council’s Localities Service; and

The Area Committee’s work programme for 2026/27.

📍 Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby
📅 Wednesday 30th September 2026
🕙 10am

Members of the public can attend the meeting.

The full agenda and reports are available on North Yorkshire Council’s website below: