New action plan to help Dawlish and Teignmouth

Anne Marie Morris has this week welcomed a new action plan from the Conservatives to regenerate coastal towns like Dawlish and Teignmouth. The plan, entitled ‘No longer the end of the line’, outlines how Conservatives intend to end the sidelining of seaside towns.

Most coastal towns across Britain have fewer people in jobs, higher levels of benefit claimants, more people in poor health and worse transport links than their inland counterparts. The policy proposals in the comprehensive blueprint 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.

Anne Marie said: “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.

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

Note:
The Conservative plan on coastal plans No longer the end of the line was published on 18 December 2009.
http://www.conservatives.com/~/media/Files/Downloadable%20Files/CoastalT...