Public sector investment – e.g. the Prom, the Tern Project, has been enormous and we are at last seeing this being backed up by the private sector, both small and large.

Urban Splash with the Midland Hotel has taken the lead in this,
followed by Next, JJB, Homebase, small retail outlets and restaurants.
The intended investment in Morecambe by Urban Splash is about £80million.

It is essential that the resort capitalises on the economic benefits the new M6 link road will bring.

To progress, the resort must attract people with a high(er) disposable income.

The town needs this wealth not only from visitors but from
residents as well. Without it, new private investment will fail and many new (and established) businesses will struggle.

It is no coincidence that Blackpool has now decided to follow Morecambe's lead by moving to attract 'posh' (their word) visitors and residents. To tell Urban Splash to take their money elsewhere (that, in effect, is what we're doing) is economic suicide.

I do not accept the fears of some that the proposed development could be used by DSS claimants in times of economic uncertainty.

As we have proven in the past, it is lack of quality investment which leads to decay and attracts the wrong sort of person to the resort.

Of course, there are aspects of these proposals that I do not agree with, but these concerns from all quarters are still negotiable.

To try to stop the development in its tracks is futile and sends out a message that Morecambe is not prepared to improve for the future.

I'm fed up with the self-interest, scaremongering short-sightedness and negative attitudes in the resort.

Jim Catterall
Craigwell Hotel
Morecambe