The former tourist information centre in Seahouses, Northumberland, is set to be demolished to make way for a motorcycle parking area. The wooden building, closed to the public in 2024 due to low usage, sits in the Station Yard car park in the village centre.
Addressing Parking Concerns
Residents and visitors have reported issues with motorcycles parking on pavements in the area. The demolition will allow the car park to be expanded, helping to ease parking pressures during the busy holiday season and supporting local businesses and residents.
North Sunderland Parish Council agreed to the move after plans to let the building out encountered problems. The detailed design is still being developed, with demolition work expected to start in the winter.
Councillor's Comments
Coun Guy Renner-Thompson, representing the Bamburgh ward, said: “The former Seahouses Tourist Information Centre is set be demolished to make way for much-needed additional parking.
“The centre closed in 2014 because people just weren’t using it. The next step is to bring the site back into productive use.
“We get a lot of complaints about motorbikes parking on the pavements and people struggle to get past. The building would need about £30,000 to £40,000 spent on it to get it back into use – it’s made of wood and it is rotting away, it’s just not viable.
“The plan is to have motorcycle parking there. The proposed demolition will allow the car park to be expanded, helping to ease parking pressures in Seahouses during the busy holiday season and supporting local businesses and residents.
“This was also agreed by North Sunderland Parish Council. We did look at letting the building out but there are issues to do with the lease the council has for the land which belongs to the Lord Crewe Trust.
“The final design is still being developed to ensure the available space is used as effectively as possible. I’ll continue working with council officers and keep residents updated as the scheme progresses.”
