SMEs in British Costal Resorts Get a Boost

Image reproduced under license from Ronald Saunders, Flickr

Projects dotted across the country, from Durham to Dorset, have been awarded up to £50,000 each to help restore local landmarks to their former glory, supporting local businesses, in and out of season.

Communities Minister Mr Francois said he hopes that the work will encourage a wave of enthusiasm for trips to our much-loved seaside areas – and help boost the £4 billion that tourism generates for coastal communities every year. Mr Francois said “Across our Great British Coast we’ve got heritage hooks to be proud of, but some of these places need some tender, loving, care.

That’s why over the past year we’ve invested £3.7 million to get them back into ship-shape and now 15 more brilliant British attractions will be buoyed up by work to restore them to their former glory.

This country has sight-seeing gems that are a match for anywhere in the world and I’d urge people to take a trip down to the seaside to discover them.”

Projects Receiving Funding

• The Churches Conservation Trust in Kent, to provide access to the tower of St Peter’s Church Sandwich offering a birds-eye view over one of the most complete medieval townscapes in England.
• Illfracombe Museum in Devon, to protect and preserve its unique collection of Victorian curiosities right on the seafront.
• Maryport Coastal Community Team in Cumbria, to brighten up the local lighthouse, getting it back into working order and putting the spotlight on Maryport as a tourist destination.
• Ryde town council on the Isle of Wight, to revitalise the western gardens, creating an arts and performance area, around Ryde pier.
• South Shields council, to develop options to help link tourist trails on the South Shields peninsula from historic sites like the Arbeia Roman Fort to the forthcoming North East Centre for the Written Word - The Word.
• Lancaster city council to give a new lease of life to a disused lido in Morecambe and turn into a welcome venue for festivals, arts and leisure.

Analysis has shown that that money already invested from this fund is doing its job, with every £1 invested creating a boost of upto £8 – great news for coastal SMEs and the communities they support.