Call to give seaside towns 'troubleshooting' body

The two-day event in Margate next week has been organised by the Coastal Communities Alliance (CCA) which campaigns to overcome poverty in tourism-dependent coastal areas.

The conference will underline many concerns already raised in connection with towns such as Scarborough, Whitby, Bridlington and Filey and will launch a booklet called Coastal Regeneration in England 2010 and a website: www.coastalcommunities.co.uk.

Lincolnshire County Council principal policy officer Patrick Browne, who co-edited the handbook, said: "A nationally-resourced coastal resorts intelligence centre could promote best practice, drive forward new approaches to addressing the social and economic needs of coastal resorts and inform policy."