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The edge
Spring 2007
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pmarket seafood restaurantsowned by celebrity chefs,million pound hideawayproperties for the rich and famousand that most exclusive of coastalaccessory, the privately-ownedmooring for the much-loved yacht,provide coastal images evoked bymany a glossy lifestyle magazine. Allrepresent an accurate image of thecoast, depending on yourgeographical location. But look closerand you’ll find an altogether differentview. Seasonality, isolation and askewed demographic areas much apartof the modern mix of our seasidetowns as anything served up by RickStein at his Padstow restaurant.
The social andeconomic challengefor coastal towns
Location
When it comes to their geography,coastal towns are unique. With ahinterland of 180 degrees rather than360, they are, quite literally, at theend of the railway line or road system.Location, coupled with the increaserisks of global warming, flooding anderosion mean coastal townsexperience much of the downside totheir seaside location. The undeniableattractiveness of coastal areas totourism and leisure, while aneconomic benefit, can also beincompatible to other regenerationissues, placing restrictions ondevelopment in certain areas of beautyfor example.
Seasonality and transience
Employment seasonality,given thereliance on tourism for many,is asignificant challenge for coastal towns,afact reflected in statistics provided bythe Department for Work and Pensionswhich demonstrated that seasonalwork in coastal towns was more thandouble that found in non-coastaltowns.
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This seasonality is also onefactor contributing to a more transientpopulation, present in some coastaltowns, which can generate difficultiesin education, housing andemployment.
Declining industry
Is UK coastal tourism in decline withthe recent growth of low cost airlines?Figures might suggest so. Between1980 and 2005 the numbers of visits tothe UK seaside reduced by 10 million.
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The British Resorts and DestinationsAssociation however argue that it is
The newly published CoastalTowns report from theCommunities and LocalGovernment Committee saysthere’s a national policy vacuumon coastal towns andrecommends the need forfocused specific governmentaction. Looking at the evidenceand the report’sfindings, thesnapshot of the English coastalcommunityis far from sunny,saysLesleySmeardon
 
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The edge
Spring 2007
the nature of tourism that haschanged rather than a collapse
 per se
with short breaks and day trips havinggreater impact.
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Whatever the case,there are a number of coastal townsthat have suffered a downturn in theirtourism trade. Perhaps it is thetourism product itself, that is in needofsome TLC, with specificinvestment, especially in public areas.Some towns have found good fortunewith the development of strong nichemarkets. Surfing is now synonymouswith Newquay, for example, asWhitstable is to oysters and seafood.
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But coastal towns are not completelydependent on tourism even thoughother traditional industries such asfishing, manufacturing and ship-building have declined in manycoastal towns. The report points tothe need for economic diversification,arguing for regional and localregeneration strategies anddevelopment plans that encourage abroader mix of activity.This should besupported by Government sharingbest practice on economicdiversification approaches for coastaltowns.
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Coastal demographics
The coast has always been a favouritefor the older generation and this isreflected in the higher than averagenumber of residents who are over 65years old. The out-migration of youngpeople from coastal towns and the in-migration of elderly people is aproblem faced all over the coast.Agreater transient population, rundown disused housing, an older and,insome cases, increasing population,coupled with a second homes marketinplaces, such as the South Hams inDevon, make housing issuesparticularly difficult for coastal towns.
Acase for specialmeasures?
The UK is a country surrounded by seawith a massive 12,500 km longcoastline and an English coastlinespanning 4,000 km. Yes, there is anational strategy regarding coastalerosion and flooding but we are stillremarkably without a focused,strategic approach to deal with thesocial and economic issues of ourcoastal towns. Critics would argue thatcoastal towns are too diverse towarrant such an approach, and insteadcan be dealt with in existing regional,and national policy. Clearly, while a‘one-size-fits-all’ approach does notstack up, evidence given to the inquirymakes a compelling case for specialinitiatives to tackle the needs of coastal towns. The report does notadvocate a national strategy, insteadfavouring greater cross-departmentalworking, with a central workinggroup led by the DCLT to promotegreater understanding. A nationalapproach to promote and supportseaside tourism, is howeveradvocated, urgently arguing for a newcoastal study to be undertaken.Regionally, it is the RDAs’ role, itargues, to share best practice oncoastal towns across regions,including economic diversifi-cation approaches, with RDAsdisaggregating their coastal data inorder to develop appropriate policy.Will the report create a turnabout forour coastal towns if embraced byGovernment? Joined up integratedgovernment or merely anotherbureaucratic meltdown? We wait andsee. What is clear to anyone who hasvisited an English coastal town in thepast year is if we want our coastaltowns to be vibrant, self-sustainingcommunities that attract and keeptheir population, we simply mustinvest in their regeneration. Todothis, we must first understand theforces that shape our coastal life.
Coastal policy
–The Department for theEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) leadscoastal policy with its responsibilities for flood andcoastal erosion risk in England and also spatialplanning system for sea and coast
Tourism and heritage
–The Department for Culture,Media and Sporthas policy responsibility but therearemany other regional and sub-regional structuresfor tourism according to the British Resorts andDestinations Association (BRADA).
Housing,neighbourhood renewal
–TheDepartment for Communities and LocalGovernment (DCLG) is charged with a range of policies and legislation that will affect coastal townssuch as neighbourhoold renewal, The Housing Act2004 and the local enterprise growth initiative.
Regional Development Agencies
–The Departmentfor Trade and Industry.
Demographics
–The Department of Health in relation tothe demographic profile of many coastal towns
Education skills and attainment
–The Department forEducation and Skills
Benefits system/employment
–The Department forwork and pensionsThe social and economic infrastructure on which ourcoastal towns depend, is influenced by a number of government departments. With no specific coastal townsinitiative, and no recommendations put forward todevelop one, cross-departmental liaison is vital. Yet
Coastal Towns
says such liaison is disappointing andargues for a permanent cross-departmental workinggroup to be put in place, led by the DCLG to promote agreater understanding of the needs of coastal towns.
Who’s responsible for coastal towns?
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