Coastal projects urged to put in bids

Scarborough Council is urging seaside communities to bid for a slice of a multi-million-pound funding pot which will help revitalise the coast.

Announced by the Government in July, the £23m Coastal Communities Fund is aimed at breathing life into ailing seaside towns, finance renewable energy projects or support charities and education schemes.

And with further details expected to be released by the end of the month, the council is stepping up its plans on how to benefit from the scheme.

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Scarborough Council’s Cabinet member for tourism and culture, Coun David Jeffels, said: “We are wanting projects to come forward which could potentially benefit from this funding.

“I think it has the potential to kick-start a number of aspirations, improvements and projects on the coast which Scarborough Council would find difficult in funding in the present economic climate.”

Under the scheme, half of all revenue from the Crown Estate’s marine activities – such as the world’s largest off-shore wind farm Dogger Bank, which is due to be built nearly 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast - will be put into the fund.

“We have got 45 miles of coastline in the borough and potentially we can benefit considerably from this fund if the right projects come forward, particularly those aimed at the tourist industry,” said Coun Jeffels, who is also the chairman of national tourism body British Destinations.

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“I welcome the scheme. It’s a good initiative which I’m anxious to see us take advantage of. It’s going to be shared around the coast but we are wanting to see the council’s area benefit from this funding. We will be putting bids in and we hope bids will come forward from the communities themselves.”

The Government has been talking to the Big Fund, part of the Big Lottery Fund, about the details of how cash can be handed out to communities.