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Coastal towns most economically at risk from Covid-19 pandemic

The towns most economically at risk from Covid-19 pandemic

Coastal towns most economically at risk from Covid-19 pandemic

New research has suggested that coastal and ex-industrial towns are most economically at risk from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire is in the top five at risk towns.

Skegness is the second most at risk town.

Clacton-on-Sea, Bridlington and Kinmel Bay are also included.

The research conducted by the Centre For Towns and the University of Southampton indicates that Wales is worst affected, while the South East is faring best.

Of the top 20 most at risk towns in the UK, nine were coastal and 10 were ex-industrial. Commuter towns are found to be economically safe places, with a huge 65% of them in the least at-risk section.

Data has shown that although some high-risk towns also suffer already high levels of social and economic deprivation, there is no clear correlation between deprived towns and towns hard hit by lockdown.

Coastal towns already have comparatively higher levels of unemployment and are less likely to have diverse economies, relying heavily on sole markets, for example tourism, which at present, ceases to function.

The economic impact of the Covid-19 lockdown, will, of course, exacerbate these existing problems.

Not all towns that struggle with already high levels of deprivation have local economies that are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus shutdown.

This could be seen as fortunate as towns which have both are likely to struggle the most to recover after this crisis is over.

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