Mablethorpe residents share ideas on how funding could improve town
Residents of a seaside town have shared what they would like to see improved or added to their area after new government funding announced. Last week the £5b Pride in Place programme was announced, which is expected to improve local areas based on feedback from residents living in those places. As part of the fund 169 areas will receive £2m of funding every year for a decade, which will give long overlooked communities the control they need to plan for the future. There are two areas of Lincolnshire set to receive this funding, Mablethorpe and Gainsborough West. Although Boston will also receive a total of £1.5m as part of the Pride in Place Impact Fund. The new government programme gives people who know the area the best the chance to improve it, such as by improving parks or put life back into boarded up shops.
General view of Mablethorpe’ town centre
(Image: Laycie Beck)
Speaking to Lincolnshire Live, residents in Mablethorpe had a wide range of ideas of what the money could be used for. This included things like improving the condition of roads and pavements, making shopfronts and the town centre itself more attractive, installing more bins and creating more dog-friendly green spaces. Hannah Leader owns Ironing Services Mablethorpe in the town and says it would be nice if there could be extra support for local businesses when its out of season. She explained that if something could be done to encourage people to shop local, it would be great for “the off season in winter, as it definitely gets a lot quieter and people don’t really come out much in the winter.” She added: “Everyone is lovely that comes here.” Although she feels more bins could be helpful for the area, and more green spaces to walk dogs as it can be tricky finding somewhere nice to walk them when the seasonal beach ban is in place. A resident in her nineties who did not wish to be named said: “Maybe they could improve the pavements. I think definitely the paths could be better, but I don’t come out too much.” She added that the condition of the paths makes it difficult for people walking with mobility aids as its quite uneven in places. A 52-year-old man from Mablethorpe who did not wish to be named feels that the promenade is a big area that could be improved in the town.
Residents say the condition of the paths is poor
(Image: Laycie Beck)
He said: “I know some of the older people on mobility scooters tend to get stuck on the promenade as they can’t get through the sand. That’s a big issue that the council and Environment Agency need to look at.” He understands that its an issue caused by nature, but feels that “they could really do with a better solution” to keep the area accessible for everyone. Sharon Parker, of Sutton-on-Sea, regularly visits Mablethorpe. She says that the town is “a lovely place” but feels that the streets could be kept cleaner. The 60-year-old explained that there are a lot of dogs who visit the town, and especially when they are not allowed on the beach due to the seasonal ban, they are walked around the streets and it can often smell like wee. She said: “There’s an awful lot of dogs, and you come down here and you see lots of dogs and it smells of wee. If they just cleaned the streets now and then that would be nice.” Julianna Urlson works in one of the town’s clothing stores. She thinks the current high street “doesn’t attract many people” and that it needs sprucing up a bit. She stated: “If they can make the shops nicer and the roads it would just make it better so maybe some more people would come if its better looking.” A Lincolnshire man in his sixties said: “I’m quite happy with what we have.” He reflected that perhaps the amount of parking could be improved as “if you are a visitor you will struggle to fins somewhere” when its summertime. However, generally he feels the town has plenty of resources and everything it needs.
You may also like
Leave a Reply