Guests staying at Scarborough Travelodge lined the streets this morning as they were forced to evacuate when fire alarms sounded at the newly converted hotel.

Large numbers of guests poured out of the former Hotel St. Nicholas onto the streets as staff ushered them out of the building – but guests appeared confused as to where to congregate, bringing traffic on St. Nicholas Cliff to a temporary standstill as crowds blocked the road.

The incident at the Scarborough hotel which happened at about 8.30 am on Thursday morning is thought have been a false alarm as guests where allowed back into the hotel around 30 minutes later.

Travelodge’s new multi-million pound Scarborough hotel was officially opened on 11 June 2009, creating 20 jobs following the £7.9 million renovation.

According to the results of a nationwide suvey conducted by accountants PWC, North Yorkshire is the best place to live in England.

North Yorkshire came joint top in the poll to find England’s best county in which to live, alongside Dorset. More than 10,000 residents of North Yorkshire took part in the nationwide ‘place survey’ in which local people were asked to rate their home areas.

A typical view of the beautiful North Yorkshire Countryside

Overall, PWC’s analysis found that North Yorkshire and Dorset are ranked as the top counties in terms of being good places to live.

Concerns about anti social behaviour are lower in North Yorkshire than in any other county and are also the lowest in the region. More people in North Yorkshire think their local council and the police are dealing with local concerns about anti social behaviour and crime than elsewhere in the region.

Volunteering and being part of local decision making are rated the highest in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

North Yorkshire is also ranked best in the region for people from different backgrounds getting on well, for parents taking responsibility for their children, for people treating each other with respect and consideration and older people getting the help they need.

Commenting on the results John Weighell, leader of the county council said “It is very gratifying that North Yorkshire has come out joint top of all English counties. It is particularly good because this was no theoretical exercise, but the result of real people telling the researchers exactly what they like and dislike about where they live.”

Photo credit: dozymoo

A two-day “Lime Workshop” will be taking place this week at The Talbot Hotel in Malton.

Starting on Thursday 9th July the event, organised by The Earth Stone and Lime Company in association with the Fitzwilliam Estate, is aimed at contractors, tradesmen and property owners.

The Malton event will feature hands-on experience and discussions on the use of lime and lime mortars for the building and repairing of traditional buildings.

Nigel Copsey, who is a course organiser for The Earth Stone and Lime Company, said:

“As much as 85 per cent of the repair works done to old buildings are dealing with the decay and the damage caused by the use of inappropriate and incompatible materials over the past 60 years.”

Over the two day course talks will include topics such as the need to use lime, lime washing, pointing, plasters, renders and the usefulness of different limes.

Roddy Bushell, who is the manager at the Fitzwilliam Estate, said:

“There is a growing interest in repairing and conserving traditional buildings, so we felt the time was right to offer a new expanded course on lime and lime mortars.”

For further information on the Lime Workshop call Mr Copsey on 07845 739594 or email nigelcopsey@hotmail.com

As we reported last week, Flamingoland unveiled it’s brand new record breaking roller coaster this weekend and a representative from the Guinness Book of Records was in attendance to verify the new rides title as the ‘World’s Steepest Rollercoaster’.

After getting a sneak preview of the ride last week via our exclusive video of Mumbo Jumbo on our blog last week, thrill-seekers travelled from far and wide to ride the coaster on its opening day, with some visitors reportedly travelling from as far away as Belgium.

The £5 million ride opened to the public on Saturday, and hundreds of people of all ages put up with the extreeme heaton a hot Summer’s day in order that they could be among the first to try out the record-breaking ride.

Mumbo Jumbo has a section with an inverse incline of 112 degrees – beyond the vertical – which was verified as the steepest on a steel rollercoaster by the representative from the Guinness Book of Records in attendance on the day.

Talking to Scarborough’s Evening News, Flamingo Land boss Gordon Gibb said: “It’s wonderful to get the public on at last – it’s what it’s all about. I’m delighted with it, every second is filled with dynamic twists and turns. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

Several competition winners were among the first to board the ride along with members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, who had travelled from as far as Cornwall, London and Scotland.

Chairman Andy Hine, 42, of Hillingdon, London, said to the Evening News: “This is a unique ride which has elements nobody else has got.”

Whilst fellow member Matt Walker, 36, of Bournemouth, commented: “It was brilliant – it has lots of things you don’t expect. Plus it’s really comfortable – you could spend an hour on it!”

The ride ran smoothly for over an hour but a technical hitch left one four-person carriage stuck near the top of a steep climb for around 20 minutes but these were explained simpy as ‘teething problems’ by the ride operator.

This great new ride is expected attracted tourist to local are from far and wide and be a huge boost for the local economy including local businesses and hotels in Scarborough and the surrounding area.

A local photography exhibition showing the South Cliff Gardens through the ages has proved to be a huge success.

Hundreds of pictures were displayed at one of the restored South Cliff shelters in an event organised by Scarborough’s Civic Society. The collection was put together by Austen Sleightholme and was made up of copies of old postcards and photographs that he had been given.

Mr Sleightholme said of the exhibition in Scarborough:

“The whole idea of the exhibition was to show the gardens past and present – the evolution of the gardens.”

Adrian Perry, who is the Scarborough Civic Society Chairman, said:

“The event was absolutely fantastic. I would have been perfectly happy with tens of people coming along but we had hundreds!”

Throughout the day £70 was given in donations and the society now hope to repeated the exhibition in August.

On the same day, and in an attempt to help visitors staying the various Scarborough hotels explore and experience the local historic area, Mayor Bill Chatt officially launched a free leaflet about the gardens.

The Friends of South Cliff Gardens have produced the new leaflet which includes a large map and is available at Tourist Information Centres and many hotels in Scarborough.

Photo Credit: apsande