PEOPLE of all ages have their special memories of living in or visiting a place by the sea ... bathing and paddling at the beach, playing in the sand, rock-pooling, throwing sticks for the dog, ice-cream, chips, watching boats come and go at the harbour. The popularity of the West Coast’s seaside resorts dwindled since the advent of affordable package holidays abroad, and the decline of some traditional industries has had a significant impact on the prospects of residents.
The news that the British Hospitality Association recommends a seaside tsar to help turn declining towns into coastal powerhouses sounds like an exercise in the management of failure. Someone would be appointed at considerable public expense to tell communities what they already know.
There is an expectation that the public sector will come to the rescue, but central and local government can only do so much. Their responsibilities include public services and creating and maintaining conditions to attract investment.