'Residents must do their bit for Withernsea,' says Edna Harknett, 89
A TIRELESS volunteer is urging residents to play their part in improving Withernsea.
Edna Harknett MBE has been making sure disabled people get the financial support they are entitled to for more than 14 years.
Now, the 89-year-old is calling on residents to do their bit to bring one of the most deprived towns in the East Riding back up to standard.
East Riding Council has revealed a £1m loan scheme to upgrade rundown streets and a £600,000 project to refurbish and combine and council's library and customer service centre.
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The final phase of a £920,000 refurbishment of the town's main shopping street also got under way last month.
But people living in the town said much more is needed.
Edna, whose advice centre is in Queen Street, said: "A lot more needs to be done to bring Withernsea back up to standard.
"We should look after it a lot better. Some people in the town have no pride or dignity but if we all do our bit it could make a difference.
"Residents have a big part to play and if we are all proud of where we live it will change the way some people behave.
"We need to respect the work which is being done."
Edna has lived in the town for 35 years and set up the Withernsea and District Disability Action Group in 1997.
She said: "I love Withernsea to bits and have worked hard to get things done.
"Although sometimes, when I am showing friends around, I do feel ashamed of where I live.
"You don't get anything unless you help yourself and it is up to Withernsea to keep whatever work is done tidy and make sure people who visit the area have a good experience."
Under the £1m home improvement project, homeowners and landlords will be offered low-cost loans to improve their properties.
The hope is to provide improved housing at the same time as creating much-needed jobs in the construction sector.
Edna said: "I take my hat off to the investment and would welcome more in the future.
"There needs to be improvements to the promenade. We are a seaside town and we need seaside shops on the seafront.
"We need some decent shops in the town which are well known names to boost the town.
"What we really need is to show visitors that Withernsea is a nice respectable town with respectable people who make visitors feel welcome."
Comments
by gwhittaker
Thursday, November 22 2012, 3:42AM
“My new novel The Girl From Kosovo looks at Withernsea issues. I'm a bit sick of the negativity and lack of foresight. It was not the closing of the railway, or the markets that set the town on a terminal path. It was the event of June 30th 1976 when the heart of the town was ripped out. For generations the unique lighthouse, the ONLY lighthouse in UK located in the middle of a town, was turned off. Trinity House did not understand the uniqueness of the lighthouse. Because of its location it gave comfort and solace to generations of children grown up there. Imagine the cheap PR job of turning the heart and soul of a town back on! National and International stories generated, and worth millions to the town for a few thousand in investment. Its not about roads, housing etc. It's about restoring the psychological soul of the town. I saw what happened when the light went out. The light went out of the people too, though many did not understand at the time what it was they felt. it was LOSS. I grew up with that light chasing away the monsters. No, Withernsea has not deteriorated too far. EYMS could sponsor weekend trips to see the light at night. Beach parties in summer. People would open up their homes to visitors as they once did. Life would be breathed back into the old girl again. Such a cheap, simple beginning to a solution. From that one single act, Withernsea would begin to gain its feet again. Don't underestimate the power of that unique lighthouse and what it did for the people who came, and the people who lived there. The single biggest tourist attraction available for the town to use, and Trinity House could be a part of a massive and cheap PR campaign. Businesses would begin to thrive again. Bed and Breakfasts would re-open and people would offer their homes. It's a positive, and simple way to begin. Withernsea Lighthouse BECAUSE of its location in the town became more than just a lighthouse and should never have been arbitrarily treated as JUST a lighthouse. Believe me, I grew up there and I knew the power of that light. I've campaigned one way or another for years to JUST TRY IT! In the end I spent two years writing a novel to try to get the point across. Listen to the townspeople and their memories, and listen to the tinge of sadness in their voices when they tell you about the Xmas after the light went out. No, I'm not promoting my book because if you want to find it you can find enough of it free online to begin to understand. Fix up the light for a few thousand pounds and everything will begin again slowly but surely. The opportunities to promote the town from that point of view are limitless! Rebuilding a town starts with a simple act. AND neither Trinity House, nor the council can lose. Even if they spent the money on the light as an experiment, they would recoup the costs almost immediately in the publicity. Think. Think positively. All it needs is a resident community to take up the challenge and fight for it. The rest will take care of itself.”
by democracy_now
Thursday, November 01 2012, 8:50PM
“I do feel sorry for decent people like Edna who really want their town to be a better place, but many towns in the East Riding have declined under the governance of the East Riding Council and Bridlington will end up as another Withernsea in the coming decade. Shame on you Mr Parnaby for the legacy you have left!!”
by gassetta
Thursday, November 01 2012, 12:45PM
“Withernsea i e Bransholme by the sea, say no more !”
by Kctiger
Thursday, November 01 2012, 12:05PM
“The problem is large stretches of the A1033 have has speed limits reduced so it cuts off Withernsea even more because it now takes even longer to get there. A new improved road would cut journey times and would make it a more desireable place to live. But it just wouldnt be cost effective.”
by Phil_melton
Thursday, November 01 2012, 10:46AM
“Yes move out of Withernsea would be a great start! why bother with the place? sorry people i used to go to Withernsea myself a few years back but its drastically deteriorated, i just wouldn't waste my fuel.”
by Maccy_george
Thursday, November 01 2012, 9:33AM
“I've quite often been in pubs in Withernsea & can hear the sly comments of the locals behind your back. "Diggers" they call us (as in sand diggers I suppose?) and you are hardly made welcome.
Well, you've got your come uppance as now without the "diggers" money coming into your economy the town is a dump & you deserve each other.
Rot in hell Withernsea.”