Lords call for dedicated minister for seaside towns like Blackpool

It says issues affecting coastal communities cross over between areas including health, education and regeneration and need the help of different government departments.

Now a follow up report by a House of Lords committee into The Future of Seaside Towns, published in July, is calling for a ministerial role to co-ordinate support.

The report warns: “Seaside towns and communities remain places with significant potential, but they have still not been enabled to fully realise that potential.

“We are concerned about the persistent sense of disconnection that seaside communities feel and which has become widespread over recent years.

“Progress in supporting and investing in these areas has been too slow for too long.”

The report adds: “We believe it is necessary for the responsibility for seaside towns and communities to be allocated to a Levelling Up Ministerial portfolio.

“This will give these areas the recognition they need and add a necessary voice in discussions on levelling up.

“The Government needs to go further still and must develop a coastal communities strategy to tackle the long-standing disparities entrenchedin seaside towns and communities.”

Blackpool Council was among the local authorities which gave evidence to the committee, including that its Pride of Place Partnership which brings together business leaders, played a key role in meeting challenges.

The Blackpool Town Prospectus had set out to government a clear wish list for the town which has been granted around £100m of Levelling Up Funding.

Blackpool Council’s director of regeneration Alan Cavill told the committee “you have to make it easy for government to support you.”

He cited the Blackpool Town Prospectus which “everybody in the town is signed up to … which has a simple set of asks.”

Lord Tom McNally of Blackpool, who contributed to the report’s findings, said a more coherent approach to tackling the challenges of coastal areas was vital.

He said: “Some of the issues are covered by health, education and transportation as well as by the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) under tourism.

“The danger is there is no coherence to the policy.

“Blackpool has done well because its Pride of Place organisation has been able to get its act together with government.

“Seaside towns have specific and distinct problems that need addressing, which are different to inland communities.

“National funding must be long term and needs long term plans.

“It is encouraging to me to see Blackpool seems to have got its act together and is working well with national government to deliver for Blackpool, and I hope this report will encourage what Blackpool is doing.”

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said in his evidence to the committee more resources need to be directed to coastal areas.

The report says: “Data continues to show health disparities in coastal areas, and Professor Whitty has recently stated that, because many people move to coastal areas with existing health conditions, health resources should be targeted towards these areas.

“Professor Whitty recognised the differences between coastal areas but highlighted that “they are likely more similar to one another thantheir nearest inland neighbour” and therefore need a strategy to address these areas.”