
3THE MIRAGE |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE
Changing the face of the
British seaside
Using our work in Mablethorpe as
a template, we are also trying to
improve our other site at Walton-on-
the-Naze in Essex; it is largely a similar
situation, located in a coastal area
with significant deprivation. In such a
case, once again, we desperately need
these regional growth fund grants,
or something similar, to address this
and make a significant difference to
thearea.
If I, and other entrepreneurs like
myself, had access to some kind of
funding programme, these kinds of
transformational projects could be
undertaken on a far more regular
basis. This would massively change
the shape of our struggling seaside
towns, many of which suffer from
high levels of unemployment, and
serve as a breath of new life for
the British coastal leisure industry.
I personally believe there should
be a permanent fund dedicated to
helping entrepreneurs for these vitally
important projects.
Money shouldn’t just be thrown
around without thought, obviously,
but if used properly these growth
funds can have a great, positive effect
on struggling areas. A dedicated
programme to this end would serve
as real encouragement for the
people who truly want to help their
strugglingcommunities.
Promoting business in
deprived areas
These projects were in part made viable
by way of the coalition government’s
reductions in corporation tax and
capital goods allowances that were
available in the early years of the
2010s. I feel these allowances should
be permanently available for businesses
in deprived areas to effectively promote
investment where it is most needed.
One factor that has been a definite
hindrance for development is the
significant and expensive business rates
tax; it has done nothing at all to boost
these deprived areas and takes a huge
sum out of our business’ cashflow
– money that could be spent on
improved facilities, which would lead,
in turn, to further employment.
This rates bill alone is around £70,000
at Mablethorpe and £40,000 at
Walton-on-the-Naze; we feel this is an
unfair tax that should be reconfigured
as soon as possible into something
that supports and rewards business for
creating employment in these deprived
areas. A partial rates relief over a five
to ten-year period for businesses that
have improved facilities or employment
in these areas would be a good
placeto start.
With 100 per cent rates relief in this
regard for a period of time, a lot
of funding could be subsequently
financed through banks. This could
then be tapered off over a following
ten-year period to make the difference
for many projects which would
not have previously been viable. A
programme like this could be not just
beneficial but rather revolutionary for
all of Britain’s deprived areas, let alone
its seaside towns.
There should be
a permanent
fund dedicated
to helping
entrepreneurs
for these vitally
important
projects
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