Detailed plans for the next stage of the multi-million pound ‘The Sands’ development in Scarborough, have now formally been submitted to Scarborough Council’s planning department on behalf of developers Benchmark Leisure.

The latest plan for The Sands project sees a new all-year-round water park – complete with giant ‘tornado slide’, family restaurant and holiday homes being built on the site of the former Atlantis waterpark, Mr Marvels and Kinderland children’s park.

As well seeing the return of a top quality attraction for both visitors and locals, it is believed that this new phase of The Sands development will create over 100 new jobs. There will be approximately 60 new jobs created at the water park, 35 jobs at the holiday accommodation and 10 jobs at the new restaurant, according to figures printed in Scarborough’s Evening News.

The submitted plans state that the long promised water park is integral to the redevelopment of The Sands project in order to meet the aspirations for both tourism and the economy in Scarborough.

Once it is built the new Scarborough water park will replace the long defunct Atlantis water park attraction at Peasholm Gap which will see a major visitor attraction return to North Bay thus helping to regained the holiday resort characteristics which were lost following the original water parks demolition several years ago.

Construction of the water park is expected to begin in 2013 as it will be the first element of the development to be brought forward. The rest of the development is then expected to follow with a staggered timescale over the next few years.

As well as a tornado water slide the water park is also to include an indoor wave pool, a children’s pool, an outdoor family pool, a lazy river and a spa.

The former site of Mr Marvels theme park is earmarked for the creation of The Bayview Holiday Home village, while the former Kinderland children’s activity park will be the site of 29 new holiday lodges. Car parking for up to 492 will also be made available on a grass overspill parking area off Burniston Road.

The town of Scarborough said ‘goodbye’ to Sir Jimmy Savile today as the former DJ and presenter was buried at Woodlands Cemetery.

Sir Jimmy died at his home in Leeds on 29 October, aged 84 and, following a three-day celebration of his life, was today buried on a sloped bank at the highest point in the cemetery in his favourite seaside resort of Scarborough.

Speaking to the BBC, funeral director Robert Morphet confirmed rumours that Sir Jimmy’s coffin was set at an angle “to enable him to see the sea”.

Thousands of people visited the Queens Hotel in Leeds on Tuesday where Sir Jimmy’s coffin was on public display. The following day 100s of fans gathered to pay their respects at his funeral in Leeds Cathedral.

Today many hundreds of well-wishers lined Scarborough’s Esplanade and Foreshore Road as the popular celebrity’s funeral cortege passed by. An initial silence eventually gave way to spontaneous applause as his Sir Jimmy’s casket travelled down to South Bay.

The applause continued as the cars passed by the amusement arcades on Scarborough’s Foreshore where a message on The Futurist Theatre’s show listing board read simply “Goodbye Jimmy”.

Sir Jimmy is said to have been buried in one of his trademark tracksuits and a ‘Help The Heroes’ wristband, along with his treasured green beret, presented to him by the Royal Marines in the 1970s.

Photo credit: Rob Janovski/Facebook

Two of Scarborough’s top accommodation venues won top honours at the ‘White Rose Awards’ this month, organised by Welcome to Yorkshire.

The Crown Spa Hotel Scarborough, won first place for the Sustainable Tourism Award and was also nominated in the category for Large Hotel of the Year. The other big winner was The Sands Self Catering Apartments located in Scarborough’s North Bay who wen home with the award for best Self Catering, Cruisers and Serviced Apartments.

The industry awards are the highlight of the tourism industry calendar in Yorkshire and are held each year to celebrate the regions best accommodation, local attractions and events.

The Crown Spa Hotel Scarborough and The Sands Holiday Apartments will now progress to the finals of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence which will be held next year.

Several other local businesses were also nominated for an award including: Jasmine Caravan Park in Snainton; The Copper Horse in Seamer; All Seasons Guest House in Filey; 17 Burgate in Pickering; The Blue Bell Inn in Weaverthorpe; White Swan Inn in Pickering; Yorkshire Lavender at Terrington; The Leeway in Whitby; Cedarbarn Farm Shop in Pickering and the Pickering Tourist Information Centre.

Gary Verity, CEO of Welcome to Yorkshire said “The White Rose Awards are a true celebration of all that is amazing about Yorkshire tourism and it was very difficult for the judges to actually choose the winners from such a fantastic selection of nominees.”

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/welcometoyorkshire

Short breaks by UK holidaymakers where up 3% in the first half months of 2011 according to the English national tourist board ‘VisitEngland’.

As well as an increase in UK holidays, tourism chiefs also reported that spending by holidaymakers was also up by 10% year on year.

The increase in these so called ‘staycations’ is being attributed partly to the extra bank holiday granted in 2001 for the royal wedding along with the good weather experienced by many parts of the UK in early summer.

The report regarding staycations were released at the Association of British Travel Agents annual convention in Majorca and is are sure to make interesting reading for Scarborough hotel owners.

However VisitEngland were also quick to point out that it wasn’t all good news by issuing a warning that the poorer weather later in the summer and a lack of consumer confidence was predicted to lead to “businesses not performing as well as they may have hoped over the school holidays”.

Speaking about the findings James Berresford, CEO of VisitEngland said “We know the trend to holiday at home is still popular however we must still work hard to ensure this continues and that Brits keep being inspired to select England as their number one holiday destination in 2012 as well.”

Whilst the the later part of summer was indeed a little disappointing Scarborough hotels did get a little extra boast at the end of September with an unexpected week of warm weather. The welcome indian summer saw locals, day-trippers and holidaymakers hitting the beach and even dusting off the BBQ to make the most of the sunshine right up until 1st October.