Under the proposed scheme, East Riding of Yorkshire Council would like to undertake the development of a new 500 berth marina and associated development at Bridlington.

Proponents of the scheme have suggested that more then 650 full-time jobs are likely to be created in Bridlington by the £60m Yorkshire Marina project, which equates to a massive £10-£10.5m of income per year for the town, which is currently one of the most deprived areas of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The proposed marina would also attract an additional 118,000 visitors and 62,000 extra visitor nights to the east coast resort.

Whilst many local people have been in favour of the project, some have expressed concern about the loss of land directly in front of the Bridlington Spa, although the relatively small area of beach in question is underwater, and therefore out of use, for most of the time.

Under the scheme, existing facilities, such as The Spa, will benefit from a complete make-over, which will see it restored to its former glory.

There will also be between 240 and 312 high-quality water-side properties created as part of a complementary residential development. A new 100-bed hotel, which will enhance conference opportunities, high-quality leisure and retail facilities andimproved provision for local commercial and recreational fishing fleets will complete the transformation of the area.

As a spokesperson for East Riding Council explained, if the project goes ahead, it will be conducted in two phases.

The first phase has seen the promotion of Parliamentary Orders to authorize the construction of new breakwaters and reclamation work, the winding up of the existing Bridlington Piers and Harbour Commissioners and the establishment of a new statutory board to run the harbour and marina. Material for the reclamation will be obtained from existing sources just south of Bridlington Bay.

The second phase is the construction of the leisure, residential, retail and commercial facilities on the newly reclaimed land adjacent to the marina, which will be carried out by a developer, once the Parliamentary Orders have been approved and planning permission obtained.

The height of the new breakwaters will be similar to the level of the existing harbour piers, although they will be sloping, and not vertical. The 500 berth marina will be served by new lock gates and there will be a commercial fishing area on the much wider south pier - this will enable HGVs to drive in and out of the area.

A study undertaken by Posford Duvivier has concluded that building the marina will lead to minimal coastal erosion, although some local changes to the beach adjacent to the development will occur. Following short-term adjustment, the beach will then settle into a balanced profile, concluded the report. The plan for the project also shows an offshore breakwater offshore from the beach to the west of the marina, which would encourage beach accumulation.

If the Secretaries of State approve the project, geotechnical work will begin soon afterwards.

Construction of the breakwaters and land reclamation would probably not begin until 2004, however. The process of building the breakwaters, reclaiming the land required, and building the marina itself will probably take three years, said a spokesperson for the Council. The development work on land will be undertaken in several phases, once the marina itself is complete.