The candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire who pledged to buy and renovate Scarborough’s Grand Hotel has revealed more about his plan.
Conservative contender Keane Duncan pledged to compulsory purchase the huge historic hotel to bring pride back to Scarborough.
He has now explained more details of his plan. Mr Duncan said he would create a Mayoral Development Corporation in Scarborough.
The corporation, run by a local board, would seek private sector investment to revitalise the Grand and the wider town, “by identifying commercial partners who support Mr Duncan’s positive vision”.
We asked Mr Duncan about the costs involved. “Setting up the corporation itself would have a cost implication in terms of staffing and resources, however I expect this would be limited,” he said.
When pressed to give an estimated cost of buying and restoring the Grand, he said: “I wouldn’t give any estimate at this stage, as this could compromise discussions with Britannia.
“What I would say is that leveraging private sector investment is absolutely key, and the corporation will be key to achieving that.”
He added: “I have had local, national and international interest from investors and hoteliers following my announcement. However, I wouldn’t be able to say if this was majority support. It has been positive though.”
Lib Dem candidate Felicity Cunliffe Lister challenged Mr Duncan’s plan. She helps run the Swinton estate in Ripon.
She said: “Keane Duncan clearly has no experience of the hotel world or of raising finance.
“His first announcement was that he was going to buy The Grand, which was widely condemned. Now he claims to be able to raise private finance from investors who share his ‘positive vision’.
“In the real world, headlines such as this just aren’t enough. There is no strategy or business plan behind this – he doesn’t understand that investors need to see what the return will be on a project that will cost several hundred million pounds, and without this the Mayoral fund will be squandered.”
She outlined her own plan for the town. “My pledges are to establish a clear and innovative marketing plan for tourism, regenerate the High Street, boost the night-time economy, improve public transport, address the second homes/holiday let imbalance, resolve the skills and labour shortage crisis and get to the bottom of the shellfish die back and ongoing sea water quality issues.
“This involves working with businesses to deliver what the town needs – addressing what is currently holding back growth which will in turn attract more investment.”
The election for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire takes place tomorrow, Thursday, 2 May