Sanders 'delighted' at £4m funding boost for cultural and heritage regeneration of the Bay

MP for Torbay Adrian Sanders has welcomed today’s announcement by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) that Torbay along with Blackpool and Dover, has been awarded a grant of up to £4million to assist in their cultural and heritage regeneration.

The grants are the first to be made as part of Sea Change, a new funding programme which aims to kick start wider economic regeneration in coastal areas through specific investment in culture and heritage.  Sea Change is a three year programme that will give £45 million to coastal resorts, and is being led by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Working with the DCMS and the Department for Communities and Local Government Adrian has led the battle in getting the Government to acknowledge that seaside towns face a unique set of problems that require unique funding. Today’s announcement sees the Government finally starting to tackle these problems.

Adrian commented

“I am delighted that the Government has listened to my concerns regarding the regeneration needs of tourist resorts by setting up Sea Change, and now the specific needs of the Bay.  In the first phase Torbay is set to receive nearly a third of the entire budget for resorts across the UK. 

“ The money can be used to improve some of the parks and gardens and public spaces the Mayor has been threatening to sell off.  Now he can take the for sale signs down and improve and enhance our green spaces that add to everyone's quality of life, whether local or visitor."