Government awards £20m for seaside regeneration

Jaywick was created in the 1930s as a holiday resort for car enthusiasts during the summer months

The government has invested almost £20m in a series of regeneration projects at an Essex seaside town.

The projects in line for the funding include the redevelopment of Clacton Leisure Centre, a new doctors' surgery at Clacton hospital and new walking and cycling routes near Jaywick Sands.

Tendring District Council is leading on a wider £120m regeneration plan for Jaywick.

Labour deputy council leader Ivan Henderson said it was a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" for the area.

Jaywick was previously identified by the government as the most deprived neighbourhood in England.

The Tudor Fields walking and cycling route is to be expanded in a £2.5m scheme

The previous Conservative government had already promised the £19.7m, but the current Labour administration has now paid the money.

Mr Henderson added: "These initiatives aim to make the most of the money on offer to create a brighter future for our area."

'Vote of confidence'

The projects are due to be approved at a meeting on Friday, the council said.

It said a series of smaller projects were due to be signed off because it believed they could be completed quickly:

• £500,000 for a seafront art and community micro venue on Clacton seafront

• £500,000 to improve tired shopfronts in Jaywick and Clacton

• £210,000 to provide three new community transport mini-buses

• £200,000 to expand the work of the Jaywick Sands Healthy Homes initiative

Further plans include a £500,000 repurposing of the Napoleonic-era Martello Tower in Clacton and improvements to the town's library.

Clacton Leisure Centre will be turned into a new "active wellbeing centre" providing sustainable sports facilities, the council says

Alex Norris, the local growth minister in Westminster, said the schemes were "brilliant news" for the region.

"This funding is a real vote of confidence for the community and will improve key services for local people," he added.