The regeneration of seaside towns and seafronts is a wide topic, one which I’m going to explore as part of my thesis project. But there are a few things to note that are relevant to seaside shelters.
The UK government has recognised that the coastline plays a vital role in the economy, history and culture of our country. They state on the .gov website that the government is “helping coastal communities flourish and strengthen their appeal as places to live, work and visit.” The government have set up a Coastal Communities Fund that was introduced as a UK-wide programme to encourage the economic development of UK coastal communities by awarding funding to create sustainable economic growth and jobs.
Many locations have applied and successfully received various amounts of money for coastal projects, some of which has been used to restore seaside shelters which is great news. In 2019 my home town of Paignton received £50,000 to “kick-start a restoration project on the iconic Victorian seafront shelters in Paignton. The project, ‘Shelters for Posterity’, aims to restore six Victorian shelters to their original grandeur, improving their current look and use as well as improving the landscape” according to Kevin Foster the MP.
Weymouth and Portland Council also received £50,000 towards the repair and redecoration of seven Grade 2 listed Esplanade Shelters along the seafront. Sunderland City Council used a share of funding to convert a former seafront shelter into a café.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund distribute National Lottery grants funding projects that sustain and transform the UK's heritage. These grants have also helped to provide funding for seafront shelters. There are many examples, but some of these include the restoration of the shelter to the rear of Scarborough Spa in the town’s South Bay as part of the South Cliff Gardens project. A Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £65,600 to restore the Victorian beach shelter on the promenade in Deganwy and most interestingly, a brand new arts-and-crafts style shelter in the South Cliff Gardens next to Felixstowe Town Hall.
The amount of funding being used to protect and restore the shelters demonstrates the importance the shelters have both in terms of heritage and community.
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