Putting communities at the heart of a post-Brexit plan – lessons for coastal communities

Fernanda Balata New Economics Foundation

This article highlights some of the fundamental issues for coastal communities and their role in the Brexit decision.

The economy can only be truly strong when its benefits are felt everywhere. Following the Brexit vote, the UK’s economic shortcomings have become more apparent than ever. The answer to these problems won’t be found in top-down plans, but through listening and learning to the many communities that have become disillusioned with politics and our economy – many of whom voted overwhelmingly for Brexit last week. If there is any lesson to be drawn from the referendum campaign and its result, it is that the electoral map and voting patterns were strongly determined by socio-economic conditions. The data shows a deeply divided nation – both within and across generations as well as geographically. Click here to read more.

Optimism in Coastal Tourism

An interesting piece with plenty of links highlighting a growing activity in our coastal towns

Telegraph: England’s seaside towns are hoping to get a new lease of life with a host of restoration projects and new attractions underway. The country’s seaside towns have seen a rise in overnight stays in the last year, with the latest figures from VisitEngland showing a seven per cent increase to 19.36 million between 2014 and 2015. The figure is expected to swell further following the Brexit vote, with more Britons opting for ‘staycation’ breaks since the fall of the sterling, and the country’s coastal areas are gearing up for a major regeneration. Last week, the British Hospitality Association proposed a “Seven Point Coastal Action Plan” calling on the Government to implement a plan to “make our seaside towns destinations of choice for tourists and residents” and “increase opportunities for over eight million people living in the United Kingdom”, the group said. Click here to read more.