Member Article

Over £4 million to boost growth in Lancashire and Cumbria

Blackpool, Morecambe Bay, South Ribble, Furness and Copeland are among the coastal areas across England to benefit from a record £36 million Government investment.

The money – from the Coastal Communities Fund – will support projects that will create nearly 3,000 jobs and almost 1,500 apprenticeships and training places nationally.

The five North West attractions are sharing over £4 million to transform the coastline, boost visitor numbers and benefit the local economy.

Blackpool City Council has been awarded £1.9 million to deliver a radical transformation of the iconic Blackpool Illuminations, creating a compelling new visitor experience.

The project will create 11 direct and 532 indirect jobs over the next five years.

Morecambe Bay Partnership has been awarded £297k to improve visitor facilities and create a new cycling infrastructure, in a project that will create over 10 jobs.

South Ribble Borough Council has been awarded £131.7k to regenerate an under used stretch of the Ribble coastline near Preston, with a focus on improved parking, a new village market and organising more events. The investment will create 35 new jobs.

Furness Enterprise has been awarded £864.8k to provide business support and training to improve the capability of supply chains of local companies, allowing them to take advantage of future business opportunities.

The project will sustain and create jobs in the region.

Copeland Borough Council will receive £900.9k to improve the local cultural offer and benefit tourism by developing the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, Cumbria to include a conference and learning centre.

This will create 4.5 direct and 13 indirect jobs.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury,Danny Alexander, said: “I created the Coastal Communities Fund because, as someone who grew up on a small island, I know how much difference targeted investment can make to people’s lives.

“It’s already supported scores of coastal communities from the Highlands of Scotland to the south coast of England.

“Projects benefitting from the latest round of funding include a new Submarine Museum in Helensburgh, and a restored harbour at Carbost in Skye.

“Overall, hundreds of communities across the UK will benefit, creating jobs and making sure that some of our most remote and fragile communities share in the economic recovery.”

Coastal Communities Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “Backing our coastal towns so they can rise up and drive forward their local economies is a key part of our long-term economic plan to secure a brighter future for Britain.

“This money will help create jobs, boost skills and open up new business opportunities, benefitting hardworking people in coastal communities across the country.

“These fantastic projects demonstrate the creativity, enterprise and passion needed to help seaside towns become year round destinations that people are proud to live and work in”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .