‘Eyesore’ Hole of Horcum viewing platform criticised

A viewing platform aimed at improving accessibility at a well-known beauty spot has been criticised as an “eyesore” by people with disabilities.

The wood and metal platform overlooking the Hole of Horcum was an “accessibility enhancement” and was “designed to enable more people to experience this special place”, the North York Moors National Park Authority said.

But wheelchair user Dawn Beck, from Bradford, was among those who took to social media to criticise the structure’s design.

She told the BBC that images she had seen of the platform had made her feel “more disabled and less valued”, adding: “If you’re looking through bars, it’s horrible and it doesn’t make you feel valued.”

The Hole of Horcum is a spectacular natural amphitheatre 400ft (120m) deep and more than half a mile (0.75km) across.

According to local folklore, the “hole” was formed when a giant called Wade picked up and threw earth at someone with whom he was arguing, creating the massive hollow in the landscape.

Ms Beck, 63, who suffers from myalgic encephalomyelitis, which is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, said she had planned to visit the area soon.

However, she said that looking at images of the new structure, the platform seemed to be a “box-ticking exercise rather than an enhancement”.

Despite the purpose of the structure being to improve accessibility at the site, it could actually make it harder for those who were disabled to look at the view, Ms Beck said.

“It looks like it could be very difficult for somebody in the wheelchair to actually see through the bars.”

Ms Beck, who uses an electric wheelchair known as a powerchair, explained she was also worried the appearance of the viewing platform at the Hole of Horcum could feed discrimination against people with disabilities.

“It looks an absolute eyesore. It doesn’t look good and I don’t actually see what they’re trying to do with it,” she said.

“It just sticks out. It’s not been made in any way that would blend in with the area, which means people who aren’t disabled are going to get very upset about it and blame the disabled people.”

Ms Beck said the money spent on the platform should instead have been put towards disabled toilets in the car park or accessible paths at the beauty spot.

The North York Moors Ranger Service said it had worked with a blacksmith to create the viewing platform overlooking the landmark.

The structure was paid for by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs accessibility funding for protected landscapes, it said.

Peter Lau, 59, from Huddersfield, who is T6 paraplegic, said looking at images of the platform, it seemed “like a game show challenge where you put someone in a wire cage”.

Mr Lau, who lost his job in the fire service after a mountain bike crash in 2014 left him paralysed from the chest down and reliant on a wheelchair, said he agreed the structure at the Hole of Horcum was an “eyesore”.

However, Mr Lau, who runs a blog and Facebook page called Accessible Nature, where he shares suitable routes for those with physical disabilities, said he also acknowledged the National Park Authority’s intentions were good and there were safety regulations they had to follow.

“They’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Mr Lau said.

Ben Jackson, head ranger for the south of the North York Moors National Park, said the authority had been “keen to improve accessibility” in the area for many years.

“The installation of the viewing platform formed part of these accessibility improvements,” Mr Jackson said.

He added that the structure was “intended to help everyone to experience this wonderful protected landscape”.

The Hole of Horcum is part of the Levisham Beck valley, in the Tabular Hills of the North York Moors National Park.

The hole was created as a result of spring-sapping – where water wells up from the hillside and gradually undermines the slopes.

This process leads to erosion and means the hole still widens and deepens to this day.

At the moment, it is about 400ft (120m) deep and 0.5 miles (0.75km) wide.

It takes about three and a half to four hours to walk the seven-mile (11km) circular route, which covers moorland, woodland and fields.

Source: The Whitby Guide