Analysis by Social Market Foundation found that UK communities living by the coast have higher rates of unemployment compared to inland area. In 85% of Britain’s 98 coastal local authorities in 2016 people were paid less than the national average, with those living by the seaside earning £3,600 less. We asked readers to tell us about the areas they live in and how things have changed over the years.
‘Many young people have to travel further afield for work’: Joan Opie, 61, grew up in Redcar and now in Stockton-on-Tees
Redcar has a proud heritage of chemical, shipbuilding and steel from the former Imperial Chemical Industries, Smith’s Dock and British Steel. All of these heavy industries have now gone, apart from the steel which is a shadow of its former self. There are few prospects for the young and many have to travel to Middlesbrough, Stockton or much further afield for work.
We used to have a roller skating rink and the pier ballroom. We are proud that we also house the Zetland, the oldest lifeboat in the world, and a museum of Redcar heritage but these are not enough to bring tourists in. Redcar Racecourse used to be a minor mecca for the surrounding areas of Yorkshire and Tyneside, especially on bank holiday race days. Now the racecourse holds approximately 18 race days per year, mainly single race days.
I am often in Redcar as my family still live there, and I am appalled to see the high street so run down with empty shops and charity shops dominating the town. Marks and Spencer is no longer there; the only department store, Beales, left some time ago; and Roman Originals has recently closed down. We need politicians to visit and understand the problems and then come up with a plan to regenerate our lovely little coastal town. We need funding to attract companies to work in our town where we have hard working men and women, of all ages, who will be glad learn new skills and trades. We need the government to care as much about us as it does London.
‘I’m paid £7,000 less than the national average’: Dave, 36, Great Yarmouth
We worry about employment and low wages. For example, in my IT job I am paid £7,000 less than the national average for what I do. Zero hour contracts and self employment ‘gig economy’ work are very common. The same goes for seasonal contracts in the holiday sector, people tend to become unemployed during the winter months. There are also poor local services such as healthcare.
Then there are the road networks, in particular the infamous A47 Acle Straight which needs work to stop the consistent traffic problems. MP Brandon Lewis is rarely here or shows any interest unless there is an election. All new housing is unaffordable to buy and rent is high everywhere; a lot of people live in cramped, unsafe properties. The excuses change, but everything stays the same and has done for many years.
‘Industry closures made me redundant’: Katie, 42, Ramsgate
Too many people from out of town, i.e. London, are buying up houses but only living in them 50% of the time. I have three different neighbours from London who each live in three bedroom houses and do this. This isn’t contributing to the local economy in a positive way and is resulting in further housing shortages. They are taking advantage of our cheap houses and strong travel networks. This is no longer a place to raise your family. Our house is on the market and we’re hoping to leave soon. Employment opportunities are drying up. The closure of Pfizer in Sandwich meant job losses and now Cummins in Manston is due to close. Both companies employed professionals locally on a London wage and I was one of those made redundant.
‘The local food bank has more demand and fewer donations’: Frank, 38, Millom, Cumbria
A former mayor of Copeland described Millom as “a place of despair”. Redundancies in local industries (for example, Vickers shipyard which was made defunct in 2007) have led to more unemployment. Local shops have closed as larger nationwide stores such as Tesco have opened. Some local transport links have been shut down and already infrequent local buses have reduced their services. The train service is bad, with trains being regularly cancelled at short notice, and the roads are narrow and poorly maintained. This all increases the isolation communities and individuals feel.
Two bank branches have closed, as well as several pubs and the job centre. The local food bank has more demand and fewer donations. A family member and a school friend of mine committed suicide. Another two school friends have died from complications from alcohol dependency. Then there are holiday homes in the Lake District which price locals out of house purchases. People are hopeless and depressed. The situation will deteriorate without some form of intervention.
‘There are a lack of stable job opportunities and local investment’: Sarah, 35, grew up in Blackpool and now in Sheffield
Seaside towns such as Blackpool often have a transient population; people arrive in the hope of finding low paid precarious seasonal work to make ends meet. There are few career options for young adults, unless you want to work in the leisure and tourism industry. People need stable, reliable employment. They need safe housing, good schools and an income which allows them to feed their families.
Substance misuse and poor health are commonplace, poor quality accommodation in the form of cheap bedsits in disrepair, fill up the back streets of the town centre. Large pockets of serious deprivation have developed due to the lack of stable job opportunities and local investment, for some, welfare benefits are the only way to guarantee a stable family income, particularly off season. Subsequently I have noticed an increase in crime and sex work within the resort.
I moved from Blackpool and my life and prospects have improved dramatically. I have a career in which I take pride and earn far more than the average salary in Blackpool. My family has access to good education and wonderful facilities in the city. Our quality of life is far better than it would have been if I had remained in the town I was born in. I miss Blackpool; I miss the sea, the wonderfully tacky lights and razzmatazz. I miss the smell of cheap hotdogs, candy floss and the sound of the waltzers on Central Pier. Blackpool is a wonderful place to holiday, unfortunately just not for a lot of the people who live there year round.
Some names have been changed to protect identities.
