THE future of a £10m memorial to one of the country's best-known explorers is to be decided by planners next week.

Scarborough Borough Council's planning committee meets on Tuesday to discuss whether to grant planning permission for a controversial project known as Cook's World.

If it goes ahead, the heritage centre will be based on the site where Captain James Cook's famous ship Endeavour was built in Whitby harbour.

Cook trained as an apprentice in the North Yorkshire fishing town, which has become famous across the world for it's connections with the globe trekking hero.

The project plans to include the use of a former engine shed, which is itself a Grade II listed building and could bring a number of benefits to the local community of Whitby and the area as a whole.

Trustees of the James Cook Trust, which is behind the centre, said benefits for the community include increased employment, education, training, apprenticeships and leisure facilities as well as a fun day out for people from across the North-East and North Yorkshire and beyond.

The planning application was deferred several months ago as the authority wanted more information concerning the impact on increased traffic levels in the town. An independent feasibilty study has since demonstrated that there will be no adverse impact on traffic in the tourist hot spot.

Whitby Town Council and several other organisations in the town also had some concerns that there could be almost a Captain Cook overload in the town.