A fantastic new opportunity to support our coastal communities in North East Lincolnshire is a step closer thanks to funding secured from Government.

A brand new partnership called CoastNEL is to be created in North East Lincolnshire to help promote and develop our coastal area, thanks to an injection of cash from the Coastal Communities Fund.

Once formed, CoastNEL will become part of a network of teams around England who can work together and with Government to help tackle issues facing our coastal communities.

Government has already been supporting coastal areas, for example, through the investment in the Coastal Community Fund, but recognises that, by working in partnership, more can be done when local communities are involved.

The new team will be set up to include existing partners from the private, business, voluntary and cultural sectors and will be looking for additional representation from the voluntary and community sector and also from the wider tourism business community.

CoastNEL will be led by VESR, a group of local business people supported by North East Lincolnshire Council, helping to grow the region’s Visitor Economy, Services and Retail offering and will build on the existing formal and informal networks in the area, starting with consultation with key partners.

The CoastNEL team will aim to:

• Encourage and support greater local partnership working in coastal areas, developing strong collaborative links to tackle local challenges;
• Support the development of local solutions to help resolve issues facing our coastal communities, such as the seasonality of work, coastal regeneration, stimulating growth in the coastal economy, improving skills, development of a great night-time economy and overcoming negative perceptions of the area.
• Develop a Coastal Economy Plan in partnership with others to shape future work.

Amanda Austin, Chair of VESR, said:

“This is a really exciting development for North East Lincolnshire. Our coastline tells a great story – from the heavy industries and port complex at the northern end of the borough, to the retail side of Grimsby and the seaside town of Cleethorpes at the south. There’s lots we could do to help our coastal communities in their development, and by working in partnership, we’ll be able to find out what is needed and what will work best.”