Talking Point: Saving the seaside
Communities secretary Eric Pickles explains why he wants to help seaside towns with a new £23.7m fund.
For centuries, seaside towns, cities and villages have played a vital role in national life - defending British borders, putting food on British tables, helping our entrepreneurs trade with the world and attracting tourists. Ever since the coming of the railways put a break by the beach within the reach of hundreds of thousands of working men and women, coastal communities have also had a special place in people's affections.
In recent years, however, as we all know, economic and demographic changes have had a big impact. Heavy manufacturing has declined, trade patterns have shifted and foreign holidays have become affordable for many.
Some seaside communities have faced these changes with confidence. They have diversified their local industries, renewed their appeal to tourists, and found a new place in the national economy. Others have found it harder to adapt, harder to keep their economy going - but I think all our seaside communities have the potential to create jobs and growth. I want to help all our coastal communities thrive and the government's Coastal Communities Fund is there to help unlock their potential.
We're publishing a prospectus which describes how the fund, worth more than £20m a year, will work. It's simple. All we want people to do is demonstrate how a share of the fund could help them create sustainable growth and jobs. They might have a plan to start a training programme to help local people develop skills in burgeoning industries - such as green technology or design. They might want to renovate their unique local heritage, such as beach huts or railings. Or they might want to invest to develop new forms of eco-tourism. For example, you might not want to get out the bucket and spade in February, but you might fancy a spot of birding, providing there's a hide to shelter you.
As long as the bid's backers can show how the money will help support jobs and growth for the long term, we won't presume to know better than them what their economy needs.
Councils, charities and companies alike can all apply. So this is the chance for leaders of all kinds to make a difference to their community. This is a time to be ambitious and positive. I'm looking forward to seeing some great ideas which help all our seaside communities become thriving places to live, work and visit.
