Withernsea


Withernsea is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, and forms the focal point for a wider community of small villages in Holderness. Its most famous landmark is the white inland lighthouse, rising around above Hull Road. The lighthouse – no longer active – now houses a museum to 1950s actress Kay Kendall, who was born in the town.
The Prime Meridian crosses the coast to the north-west of Withernsea.
According to the 2011 UK census, Withernsea parish had a population of 6,159, an increase on the 2001 UK census figure of 5,980.

History

Like many seaside resorts, Withernsea has a wide promenade which reaches north and south from Pier Towers, the historic entrance to the pier, built in 1877 at a cost of £12,000. The pier was originally 399 yards long, but was gradually reduced in length through several impacts by local ships, starting with the Saffron in 1880 before the collision by an unnamed ship in 1888, again by a Grimsby fishing boat and again by the Henry Parr in 1893, leaving the once grand pier with a mere 50 feet of damaged wood and steel, which was removed in 1903. The Pier Towers have been refurbished.
During the mid-19th century the Hull and Holderness Railway was constructed, connecting the nearby city of Hull with Withernsea and making possible cheap and convenient holidays for Victorian workers and their families, as well as boosting Withernsea's economy. It closed in 1964 and all that remains of it is an overgrown footpath where the track used to be.
Withernsea, like many British resorts, has suffered from a decline in the number of visiting holidaymakers.

Economy

Following an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the Proudfoot Supermarket, Tesco opened a competing store which originally struggled to attract sales. Tesco resorted to a campaign of price flexing, offering customers £8 off for every £20 spent in their Withernsea branch.
This led to an investigation by the Competition Commission. After their market share increased, Tesco prices returned to a level closer to the national average.
Subsequently, Aldi took over the former Proudfoot supermarket, and are now offering very competitive opposition to Tesco.
Meanwhile, the Withernsea Town Council has bought a former pub and nightclub, centrally located opposite Aldi, and has renamed it the Meridian Centre. A lottery bid for over £400,000 - Reaching Communities building fund - has been successful, and the building is now being refurbished to provide a community centre, including a cinema and performing arts venue.
There is a 9-hole golf course and leisure centre complex and a variety of pubs and restaurants are situated around the centre of the town.

Landmarks

Some of the town's better-known tourist attractions and landmarks include:
The area is served by BBC Radio Humberside, Viking FM, Seaside FM, Capital Yorkshire, KCFM & Greatest Hits East Yorkshire. Ofcom awarded Seaside FM a community radio licence to broadcast to the town on 105.3 MHz and the station launched on 5 October 2007 from studios at 27 Seaside Road. Weekly newspaper The Holderness Gazette also has offices on Seaside Road.

Education

There are a number of primary schools located in Withernsea which serve the surrounding area. Withernsea High School is the main secondary provider and also includes a sixth form and has a technology college. The high school known was refurbished in 2015.

Public services

Withernsea has its own hospital owned by the NHS which was subject to services cuts and lost its Accident and Emergency Department facility,
it is now a community hospital. Withernsea has five emergency service stations located within the town, Yorkshire Ambulance Service; Humberside Fire and Rescue Service; Humberside Police; Her Majesty's Coastguard and lifeboat station.

Notable people