An overwhelming vote in favour of preventing new properties becoming holiday lets or second homes in Whitby will highlight the problem of "bonkers" house prices forcing locals out of the town and leaving it as a "theme park", campaigners have said. A rare parish poll in the North Yorkshire tourist hotspot on Monday evening saw 93% of those taking part agree to restrict new development to "full time local occupation" in a show of unity which has no power to bind policy makers.
Campaigners said on Thursday something needs to happen to prevent young people leaving the old fishing port and make it easier to attract teachers, doctors and other key workers who have been priced out of the town. Borough councillor Phil Trumper said a three-bedroom house in Church Street, in the heart of the tourist area, would have been £25,000 to £30,000 in the early 90s but will now sell for in excess of £500,000.
Mr Trumper told the PA news agency: "I lived in that part of of the town all my life and we had a proper community down there in the 80s. But no-one lives down there now. It's becoming a theme park, basically. And that's something that we don't want to happen."
