The Government has announced the setting up of a new Coastal Communities Fund specifically to support the economic development of coastal communities.
The fund will be used to support a wide range of projects which could include development of renewable energy, improving local skills or safeguarding the environment.
The fund will be paid for by allocating half of the revenue raised by the Crown Estate’s marine activites, and is estimated to be £23.7 million in its first year, opening in April 2012.
Anne Marie said:
“I fully back the Government’s new Coastal Communities Fund, which recognises that money raised from the Crown Estate’s marine activities should be ploughed back into those same coastal communities. In my constituency we have the coastal communities of Teignmouth, Dawlish and Dawlish Warren and as such I am aware of the unique environmental and economic challenges that coastal communities can face; challenges that, when overcome, benefit the entire country. I’m sure we’ll see some very exciting and worthwhile projects come out of the Fund’s bidding process.”