Great Borough Reef cash boost
A CASH injection of nearly £30,000 from the Government's Sea Change programme is set to give the North Tyneside coastline a major boost.
A grant of 29,525 from the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment will enable the borough to work on a new and exciting programme for the coastal zone, including a multi-functional artificial reef.
The money has been given to explore three different projects, and includes restoring the grade II listed Tynemouth Victorian railway station, and enhancements to the seafront promenade.
The reef could be the hub for a range of water-based activities including diving, angling, surfing and marine ecology, which would create opportunities for tourism, businesses, leisure and recreation.
Project Trident, the name of the three part Sea Change bid, is already underway, and this funding will help to deliver the restoration of Tynemouth Station and explore how best to enhance the seafront promenade, linking Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth to complement existing regeneration.
Martin Swales, North Tyneside Council's director of development, said: "Project Trident sums up exactly what we are trying to achieve.
"It includes the world's first multi-functional artificial reef proposal that would truly put North Tyneside on the visitors map.
"It will help us deliver the completion of the restoration of Tynemouth Station, and important part of our heritage of the borough.
"And it proposes an exciting way forward to utilise a promenade through Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth to ensure all three communities can benefit from increased mobility of tourists.
"Now we must work with our partners to carry out the feasibility study and take this project forward to seek the major funding needed."
North Tyneside is just one of 12 English seaside towns receiving funding in the latest round of Sea Change awards.
Barbara Follet, Culture and Tourism Minister, said: "I'm delighted that a further 12 seaside resorts will benefit from the Sea Change scheme.
"The plans put forward for North Tyneside are a great example of how
investing in our culture and heritage can regenerate our seaside communities."
Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell was also pleased to hear about the cash boost: "I am pleased that we have received the money for the feasibility study of the regeneration of Tynemouth Station and the Promenade in Whitley Bay.
"This is an important and vital step along the way to the regeneration
of the coast and hopefully will prepare the way for a bid which will see further substantial money invested in the coast.
"It also reflects on the hard work of people locally to raise the profile of our area."
He said: "As we have seen recently, ideas such as the successful Whitley Bay Guide have raised the profile of our area in a very positive way."
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Weather for Whitley Bay
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
