City MP Stephen Morgan has backed plans to make seaside towns thrive again by slashing and reforming business rates, stopping sewage being pumped into the seas, and boosting tourism.
Mr Morgan made the comments following recently released research which found that jobs in once-loved British seaside towns have plummeted by 50,000 in just ten years.
New statistics show how seaside towns are lagging behind in economic growth as young people flock elsewhere for work.
Almost all seaside towns in England and Wales had a fall in employment levels between 2011 and 2021 – with falls of over 10 per cent for some towns.
The growth per job in real terms (growth value added) increased by, on average, three per cent across 35 seaside towns, compared to five per cent across the UK.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“In the past decade, our economy has stalled and it has been seaside towns and coastal communities that have paid the biggest price.
“As well as increasing amounts of sewage being pumped in our waters, 50,000 jobs have been lost and not enough has been done by the government to support local businesses and boost tourism.
“It’s time we had a government that paid attention to coastal communities like Portsmouth and gave us the support we need to unlock our full potential.”
Labour has also committed to introducing a licensing system for holiday lets to protect “the spirit and fabric” of communities in coastal and rural areas, while allowing them to “reap the rewards of thriving tourism”.
