COUNCILLORS called for the shipbuilding industry in Whitby to return to a prime waterfront site, now it is making a comeback after decades of decline.
Labour and Tory members of Scarborough Borough Council raised concerns about a plan to build on the derelict Whitehall Shipyard, in the port's upper harbour.
The proposal for housing, a hotel, maritime heritage centre, boat moorings, public house and restaurant are part of a new planning brief for the area, to be marketed by its owner, Yorkshire Water.
Labour councillor Ian Bryan said that the site, which covers more than three hectares, was ideally placed to provide Whitby with new opportunities for jobs in shipbuilding.
He said the neighbouring Parkol Marine Engineering shipyard was growing fast on a cramped site.
His plea was backed by Conservative councillor Bill Miller, who urged Scarborough Borough Council to consider dredging the harbour up to the shipyard to exploit its potential for boat building and moorings.
The shipyard is close to the spot where Captain James Cook's ships, Adventure, Resolution and Endeavour, were built for his voyages of discovery to the South Seas some 250 years ago.
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