New action plan to help Lowestoft and Britain's coastal towns
6th January 2010
Conservative Proposals to Create a Renaissance in Seaside Towns
The Conservatives have produced a Plan for the regeneration of coastal towns. The Plan entitled "No Longer the End of the Line" outlines how seaside towns have been let down over the past decade and outlines how the Conservatives intend to end this damaging sidelining.
The majority of coastal towns across Britain have lower levels of employment, higher levels of benefit claimants, poorer health records and worse transport links than comparable inland towns.
The policy proposals in the comprehensive action plan include:
- 400,000 apprenticeships and training places across the country - over 2 years - and a £2000 bonus for each apprenticeship at a small or medium sized enterprise.
- A £100 million fund to support young people across the country who are not in education, employment or training (NEETS)
- A shake up of the Common Fisheries Policy to give Lowestoft fishermen a greater say over the future of their industry and to promote the hook and line fishing that they carry out.
- The introduction of new tax breaks for local firms, including local business rate discounts, lower corporation tax on small firms and waiving National Insurance on new firms that create new jobs.
- Providing coastal councils such as Suffolk County Council and Waveney District Council a “Fair Funding” settlement that takes account of the large numbers of both elderly and vulnerable residents and also visitors.
Peter Aldous said:
“This plan is particularly welcome at the current time, following the recent news concerning SLP and Jeld Wen. These proposals will help bring jobs to Lowestoft. This action plan is proof that Conservatives want to reinvigorate our coastal towns, so that they are not just places for a great day out, but are also successful and attractive places to live and work The Conservatives will ensure that our coastal towns are no longer the end of the line”.
'No longer the end of the line: Our plan for coastal towns' | Click here to download
