Why our seaside resorts are declining rapidly

WHETHER it’s Hornsea or Southsea, Bridlington or Bridport, Great Yarmouth or Barmouth, it is peculiarly British that seaside resorts should face a decline far out of proportion to nationwide decline. A very steep decline.

So steep that Rhyll, Redcar and Blackpool - Blackpool probably England’s biggest and best resort in Victorian times - are numbered among the most depressed towns anywhere, even taking into account Inner London suburbs beset by poverty and hardship.

How could we have got into this position? After all, in Hull we have six Yorkshire resorts, two in Lincolnshire, reachable within a couple of hours. Surely they’re exceptions to the rule? Sadly, not.

Here are six reasons our seaside resorts suffer.

First, towns like Withernsea are already 150 years old: 150 years of incremental development. That means all the infrastructure needed to become a successful watering-hole: promenade, pier, 5-star hotel, breakwaters, Floral Hall, Pavilion, whatever, are now worn out or long-demolished.

Second, and linked to that sudden, perhaps over-optimistic, growth, the housing stock is dated and in need of wholesale renovation. All right for those bringing in new money. Greedy landlords and disabled pensioners from afar, however, find any home improvement or reconstruction out of the question.

Third, resorts like Bridlington have permitted haphazard, out-ofkilter, shopping streets that now look dated, uninviting, even tatty.

Such an odd assortment of shops cannot stand a national retail crisis - especially when more folk are buying more on-line.

Fourth, British seaside resorts are profoundly out-of-fashion, particularly for seven or 14-day holidays in boarding houses.

Fifth, and really impactful: local councils have no money in the kitty, no reserves, when mountains of cash are desperately needed for inward investment or new facilities.

Sixth, seaside resorts like Withernsea, Sidmouth, Bude, Ilfracombe, Mablethorpe, Fleetwood, were at the end of branch railway lines. So it only needed a Richard Beeching to chop them off from the outside world. Forever.

Godfrey Holmes, Withernsea.