The People's Republic of South Devon

If you thought Dawlish and Teignmouth were already being regenerated, think again! Anne Marie Morris, Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Newton Abbot, has been getting right behind the No Longer the End of the Line plan, which outlines how Conservatives intend to end the ’sidelining of seaside towns’.

Anne Marie told the PRSD: “Over the past few years I’ve made the regeneration of our two coastal gems one of my top priorities. Resorts and seaside towns have been sidelined under the current government and it’s important that action is taken. However, many local residents feel that there won’t be a new direction until there is fairer funding for seaside towns, so I’m glad that provision for that is included in the Conservative proposals.

“Also, under our proposals, key developments in the two towns, like the redevelopment of the Carlton Theatre, could receive Lottery funding.”

Anne Marie welcomed the proposals to cut Corporation Tax from 28p to 25p and reverse the Government’s planned increase on the small companies’ rate, as well as the proposed drive to ensure that people living in coastal areas had easy access to flood insurance.

“The tax breaks will make a real difference to Dawlish and Teignmouth’s seaside businesses, many of whom are struggling at present and will benefit from a Conservative government introducing local business rate discounts, reducing corporation tax for small businesses and waiving National Insurance contributions for firms that create new jobs – new jobs that are so badly needed,” she said.

“These plans are not just tinkering around the edges but a real plan to change our seaside towns for the better.”

The plans include:

• Giving Teignbridge District Council and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary new powers to restrict the large number of late licenses and tackle the alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour that blights many coastal towns.
• Introducing new tax breaks for local firms – including local business rate discounts, lower corporation tax on small firms, and waiving National Insurance on new firms that create jobs and creating 400,000 new apprenticeships.
• Cancelling Labour’s council tax revaluation which would raise council tax for properties with sea views.
• Creating a ‘Community Right to Buy’ to allow local groups to take over and save threatened community assets and buildings.
• Allowing privately owned, historic seaside attractions, such as Teignmouth’s Grand Pier, to apply for Lottery funding.

And you can check the proposals out for yourselves by downloading the document as a pdf.

• Is this just a ‘Kiss Me Quick’ policy, or do seaside towns need extra help they’re not getting? Comments below, please

(Image © Copyright Richard Knights and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)

“People in the South West are still paying the price for the last Tory administration. That’s a big issue. They trampled all over the South West when it came to water charges. You’re still paying the price for that years later.”

Lord Paddy Ashdown in the Western Morning News

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