Funding for seaside towns extended

SEASIDE towns, such as Blackpool, are being invited to bid for money from a £29m funding pot aimed at boosting deprived areas.

The government says its Coastal Communities Fund is being extended to 2014-15, due to rising marine revenue.

It is backed by revenue from offshore wind farms, tidal power and other marine activity.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the fund was “giving our seaside towns and villages a real chance to grow as the nation benefits from our marine resources”.

He said the fund would help create hundreds of opportunities for local apprentices and support jobs and businesses in the areas.

Earlier this month, the Centre for Social Justice think tank warned that some seaside towns in England and Wales were stuck in a cycle of poverty and suffering “severe social breakdown”.

And figures from the Office for National Statistics this week suggested that 25 English seaside towns had above-average levels of deprivation, including Blackpool.

The Coastal Communities Fund was set up in 2012 to try to boost deprived seaside towns and villages and will now be extended by a year. The government says the idea is to help coastal towns to create new business opportunities, jobs and skills that will benefit the area.

Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles added: “This government is committed to supporting our seaside towns and we know the Coastal Communities Fund is really making a difference so I’m delighted to announce we are increasing the funding for next year.

“This will help our coastal towns make the most of their potential by diversifying their economies and industries so they can become year-round success stories. The projects our fund has already supported will support around 5000 jobs, more than 300 new business start ups and over 1,400 training places.”