By Seaside towns have been neglected for too long and are in desperate need of reinvention, a parliament report said.
Young people in coastal communities are being “let down and left behind” by issues like transport, housing, and post-16 education, the document said.
The House of Lords’ plan suggested solving problems in Blackpool could prove key in tackling issues at all bucket and spade resorts across England.
The report said if you can tackle it there you can tackle it anywhere.
The British seaside has been “perceived as a sort of national embarrassment” it deserves attention the House of Lords select committee on regenerating seaside towns found.
Seaside towns have been neglected for far too long committee chairman Lord Bassam of Brighton is believed to have said.
Places like Brighton and Bournemouth have shown that seaside can successfully reinvent themselves, he said.
Young people in coastal communities are being “let down and left behind” by issues like transport, housing, and post-16 education, the document said.
The House of Lords’ plan suggested solving problems in Blackpool could prove key in tackling issues at bucket and spade resorts across England.
“If you can solve it there you can solve it anywhere,” the report said.
The British seaside has been “perceived as a sort of national embarrassment” and deserves attention, the House of Lords select committee on regenerating seaside towns found.
“For too long, seaside towns have been neglected,” committee chairman Lord Bassam of Brighton said.
Places like Brighton and Bournemouth have shown the seaside can successfully reinvent itself, he said.
The committee said it “strongly supported” a £67m town deal piloted in Grimsby to create 10,000 homes and create 8,000 jobs by 2032.
A £67m investment to regenerate Grimsby has been approved by the government.
The money will be used to improve the docks area, build 10,000 homes and create 8,000 jobs, as well as upgrade major roads including Moody Lane.
Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry MP and Business Secretary Lord Henley signed off the agreement on a visit to the North East Lincolnshire port.
North East Lincolnshire Council is providing £35m of the investment while the remainder comes from the government, including £2m to help improve the town’s roads, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Mr. Berry said he hoped Grimsby would lead by example in getting more towns to propose their own regeneration projects to the government.
He said: “It’s extraordinary and exciting for the people of Greater Grimsby.
“This once-in-a-generation town deal signals a new dawn for Greater Grimsby with millions of pounds in government funding supporting the delivery of thousands of new jobs, significant local investment in regeneration, and nearly 10,000 new homes by 2032.”
“I have said all along that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to work with government, local businesses to deliver a more positive future for the town and it has all come together well.
An expansion of a similar town deal for Blackpool had been discussed and ministers thought that type of scheme could particularly “lend itself to coastal towns”, the report said.
When counting the number of visitor nights spent in seaside resorts, Blackpool ranked top by some distance followed by Brighton and Bournemouth, the report said.
Blackpool had been working hard to turn around its fortunes, with a revamped seafront, investment in its trams, a newly electrified direct rail link to London and investment in hotels.
But the town suffered serious deprivation and the focus on developing tourism may have hindered regeneration efforts, the report found.
Source BBC News.
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