£400k funding for seaside towns

0
1554

Eight Cornish seaside towns have now been granted a share of £400k to support jobs, businesses and regeneration in their local communities.

In a competitive bid for funds, Bude, Hayle, Looe, Newquay, Par, Penzance, Perranporth, and St Agnes all succeeded in their bids to help drive their economies forward.

They developed initiatives to improve the visitor and local community experience, from promenade and harbour improvements to enhancing beach access for the less able.

A total of 18 applications were received with a combined value well in excess of the fund’s, making it a hard task for the decision panel, comprising of tourism, economy and community leaders.

Central Government and Cornwall Council both contributed £200k in recognition that seaside towns have particular economic challenges and issues of deprivation.

Cornwall Council economy portfolio holder Chris Ridgers said: “I was very impressed with the creativity and level of support from the local communities the applications demonstrated. Having to advise the projects that didn’t make it through was certainly not a reflection of the quality of those projects, but simply a feature of the limited funds available and the need to focus on the purpose of the fund.”

Steve McTeare, non-executive director of Cornwall Development Company and panel member, added: “Although the funding pot was relatively small in the great scheme of things, I do hope it will go some way to making a difference to those areas selected and in many instances kick-start some of the bigger picture regeneration projects.”