Seaside communities to get £800,000 for improvement projects

The South West Coast Path will get £130,000 for repairs caused by erosion as well as to make other improvements

A number of seaside communities in the South West will get a share of £800,000 from the Coastal Communities Fund in a bid to help attract visitors.

Communities Minister Mark Francois MP said the money would be spilt between eight seaside community projects.

He said it would help create jobs, training places and boost the local economy as well as attract visitors.

The South West Coast path in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset will get £130,000 for repairs and improvements.

Clevedon Pier in Somerset, Britain's only Grade 1 listed pier, is another project getting financial support from the scheme.

Mr Francois said: "Over the past three years we've already funded more than 200 projects along the shorefront.

"Now this extra £800,000 will help put another eight coastal communities back on the map and kick-start their own exciting regeneration plans."

Projects receiving funding

The money was set aside to help boost the economy of seaside communities

• Kirkleatham Catering Academy in Redcar and Cleveland will receive an £200,000

• Gravesend Borough Charter Market Hall, Gravesend, Kent will get an £50,000

• Bettheshanger County Park visitor centre, Kent will receive an £175,000

• South West Coast Path, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset will receive over £130,000

• Waldringfield flood defence group, Suffolk will receive almost £100,000

• The coastal cruise vessel MV Balmoral, Bristol will get £52,000

• The Goodwin Development Trust, Hull will receive £34,000

• Clevedon Pier Heritage Trust Ltd, Somerset will receive £75,000

Source: Coastal Communities Fund