Coastal town reacts to 'overdue' £20m funding

John Haddock, 76, says the money should be used to open more shops in Felixstowe

People living in seaside towns have welcomed the government's pledge to inject millions of pounds along the coast.

Sir Keir Starmer announced "a huge investment" of up to £5bn for 339 "overlooked" communities around the UK.

In Suffolk, that's Lowestoft, Felixstowe West and Lakenheath, which will each get £2m per year for 10 years, with the communities themselves deciding how the money is spent.

The Prime Minister said Labour's Pride in Place programme would enable them to save pubs and libraries from closure, but how do residents in Felixstowe West feel?

Hannah Pain, 21, wants the money to be used to establish more spaces where young people in the town can build a sense of community

Hannah Pain, 21, said she would like to see some of the area's local parks and sports facilities rejuvenated for young people.

"The town itself isn't very geared for teenagers, so there needs to be more community spaces, shops and cafes," she said.

"That would make community areas for young people or people with children, and older people as well."

Community cafe owner Graham Denny says the money could be used to reopen or create community spaces in Felixstowe

One of those cafes could be run by Graham Denny, founder of the Basic Life charity, and owner of the Basic Community Cafe which recently had to close down.

He hopes the funding could be put towards its reopening.

"The potential is enormous but we just did not have the finances, man power, or the time to open it up," he said.

"It just wasn't sustainable, which is really, really sad, but I think it was very important — it was a safe place and really essential to the wellbeing of the community."

76-year-old John Haddock, who recently moved to the area, said: "I love the area but there's not very much round here.

"The paths and roads need updating for a start and there needs to be more food shops — I haven't been down the town centre yet, but I've been here since April."

Youth worker Shez Hopkins hopes the money can be put towards creating more opportunities for young people

Shez Hopkins, manager of the Level 2 Youth Project, said Felixstowe had for too long "been the poor relative in terms of funding".

"I think it's amazing, long overdue and if there ever was a town or community that was deserving of this money then it is absolutely Felixstowe," she said.

"We have very limited resources here and a lack of aspiration is really impacting on the future of the next generation.

"We need to create opportunities so they are able to remain in their home town and give back."

Jenny Riddell Carpenter, Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal, told the BBC she was "excited" about the funding

To decide how the money is distributed, a new Neighbourhood Board will be established in each community, with local representatives and residents calling the shots.

Jenny Riddell Carpenter, Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: "When I first got the news it was coming I thought it was really great.

"We can do whatever we want with that £2m - the opportunity is wide open.

"Residents have immediately had some good ideas... and overwhelmingly the reaction has been brilliant.

"This is about people who have got skin in the game. This is our chance to make sure we can do what is right for the community and invest the money where it is needed."

Suffolk Reform UK councillor Chris Hudson described the distribution of funding as a "backlash waiting to happen"

The money includes spending announced earlier this year, which saw £1.5bn pledged to 75 of the "most deprived" areas in the UK.

But not everyone is convinced with some rival parties suggesting the pledge is part of Labour's attempt to tackle an electoral threat posed to them by the rising popularity of Reform UK.

"It is a massive confidence trick where they use people's own money to bribe them or convince them that it is a good idea," said Chris Hudson, group leader for Reform on Suffolk County Council where the party has three out of the 75 seats at the Conservative-run local authority, where elections are due next May.

"It neglects all of the other Suffolk communities, which can fuel great resentment and a sense of inequality - it's a postcode lottery," said Hudson, who represents Belstead Brook.

"It is a backlash waiting to happen and this is an act of desperation. It risks wasting money on a short-term gimmick instead of a long-term priority for our most in-need areas."