by Angus Young
Efforts to boost Withernsea’s economy could be ramped up under the new combined authority for Hull and East Yorkshire.
Nearly £470,000 of public funding has been ploughed into regeneration projects in the town since 2020. The money has been spent on a range of initiatives, from installing a new town centre CCTV system to supporting activities at the Shores community hub.
However, deprivation rates in the area are still among the highest in the East Riding, with high unemployment, low income levels, poor health data and high crime levels.
Withernsea also currently has the highest rate of empty shops and leisure-related business units in the county at 14.8 per cent.
Now, ahead of the election of a new mayor to lead the new-look combined authority, East Riding Council interim chief executive Alan Menzies says the region’s devolution deal offers new hope for struggling coastal communities.
He said: “The council’s ability to attract funding is often frustrated by its demographics; for example, low population density often acts as a barrier when national funding formulae are applied, such as in the case of Withernsea.
“Similarly, as more people become socially mobile because of successful regeneration, they have the resources to relocate to other areas within or beyond the East Riding.
“This impacts further on these communities that have been left behind and that are already facing social and economic adversity.
“It will, therefore, be crucial for the council to maximise the opportunities presented through the devolution deal for Hull and East Yorkshire.
“A strong start has been made on developing an economic framework that reflects the realities of the area and every effort will be made to advocate for local priorities, especially when it comes to our deprived communities, when investment decisions are being made through the combined authority.”
At a recent meeting, the new body confirmed the inclusion of a coastal regeneration programme in a £15 million budget set to cover the next three years. The programme will focus on Withernsea, Hornsea and Bridlington.
Until now, Mr Menzies said Withernsea’s relatively small population had often been a stumbling block when attempting to secure government funding to tackle deprivation issues.
He said: “The challenge for Withernsea in realising its aspirations is its population size. Due to the lack of density, it has been difficult to demonstrate value for money for various projects despite the town’s deprivation levels.
“As a result, numerous bids for external funding to deliver aspects of the plan have been unsuccessful.”
However, securing recent government cash to back a series of feasibility studies for projects mapped out in the town council’s Town Action Plan had bucked the trend.
Mr Menzies said: “These projects have been included in a coastal funding package as part of the devolution deal which will deliver a new retail unit within the fishing compound, ten micromarket units in Valley Gardens for start-up businesses and beach chalets to improve the visitor offer.
“In addition, using UK Shared Prosperity Fund funding, projects to create outdoor showers and to complete the promenade cycle path at Seathorne will also be delivered.”
Mr Menzies added: “Despite significant investment from both public and private sources, there is still much to be done to secure economic growth, meaningful well-paid employment, and social value across the East Riding’s coastal towns.
“Local growth delivery has provided the foundation for a main platform and driver of shared investment and has captured a pipeline of projects for future investment, wherever the funding should come from.
“Future initiatives should focus on a combined Hull and East Riding coastal deal and address challenges set out in the chief medical officer’s 2021 report, in particular the growing risk of health challenges and the increasing strain on existing resources and social care in our coastal communities.
“To maximise future investment opportunities, there needs to be a collaborative approach to tackling deprivation.”