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We know what some of the issues are with seaside towns. Low paid, low skilled seasonal work and poor transport links.
I can’t speak for Suffolk and Norfolk but for Clacton I expect one would have to travel into London or at least Colchester to find better paid work. I believe the train line into Colchester isn’t very reliable and the bus takes an hour.
How does a town attract inward investment if transport links to get goods in and out are poor?
If you know the area, Cossy, what would you suggest to create more local employment? I believe £60 million has been invested in the town recently. Do you think it has been spent well?
From that 2024 report:
16.3% of people in Clacton-on-Sea (town) are under 16 years old, and 29.8% are aged 65 and over. For context, the England average was 18.6% and 18.4%, respectively.
Is part of the problem that it has a much larger elderly population so fewer working age people who might want to develop businesses?
Just throwing out a few thoughts really because you have to identify the problem before you can start to resolve it.
There are plenty of affluent areas in and around Clacton, so like everywhere it’s not all doom and gloom.
I don’t think the issues and problems there are that much different to where I live in South East Essex.
I’ve got the train many times between London and Clacton, it’s not a bad service but may mean changes at Colchester.
It’s also got good road links for those who drive.
It does suffer, as do all English seaside towns, from seasonal work but has lots of things going on, including theatres, gigs and the annual Clacton air show.
Like many seaside areas it does have a lot of retirees, a lot of east end London people came to Clacton to retire for many years, attracted by low property prices, beaches, pubs and clubs.
It needs an injection of cash and a lot of motivation.
I hope AB initiatives for young people will have a positive effect on the town.
