“Belligerence and creativity” >>> entrepreneur-led revitalisation of seaside towns >>> "People aren’t interested in that old seaside ice cream cone and walk along the beach any more. They’re looking for more."

There have been fears that the British seaside town is in permanent decline:
Futures Forum: What future for coastal communities?
Futures Forum: Looking to the future of the South West seaside town
Futures Forum: Looking to the future of the South West seaside town ... part two

Perhaps waiting for the council to 'do something' to regenerate East Devon's seaside towns is not really the point anyway...

It does seem that it's either over-kill:
Seaton Jurassic to welcome royal visitor - News - Sidmouth Herald

Or let's upset the locals:
Listen to people of Exmouth on seafront plans, urge town council | Exeter Express and Echo

Instead, maybe the 'growth' is going to come from initiatives from local businesses and communities:
Home | Jurassic Paddle Sports
Sidmouth In Bloom

And:
Sweet success for Branscombe brewery’s bitter - News - Sidmouth Herald
Cheers! East Devon MP Hugo Swire reopens Sidmouth pub after £500,000 revamp - News - Sidmouth Herald
Exmouth Repair Cafe returns this Saturday - News - Sidmouth Herald
Sidmouth Sea Fest buoyed by support for local event - News - Sidmouth Herald

Indeed, one of the biggest pulls for any seaside town is the 'festival':
Sidmouth Folk week - Welcome to Sidmouth FolkWeek!
Sidmouth Science Festival - Home

And this is the conclusion of a recent report:

From ebb to flow: how entrepreneurs can turn the tide for seaside towns

Seaside resort towns feature some of our most magnificent and memorable landscapes and hold a special place in many people’s hearts. They also face a unique set of challenges.

Though there may be much diversity between them, they often share common factors including physical isolation, educational deficiencies, significant levels of deprivation and low-wage, low-skilled seasonal work. These factors are further compounded by ageing populations, decaying seafront infrastructure and a lack of digital connectivity.

The challenges faced by seaside towns have developed over several decades. Uncertainty from successive governments on how to arrest their decline have left them among the most deprived areas of the country.

But there are reasons for optimism and hope. New industries are replacing the old; technology is reconnecting these often marginalised communities and, at the same time, stemming the brain drain. A pioneering generation of entrepreneurs, investors, cultural institutions and local politicians are finding fresh relevance for these towns, harnessing their natural and architectural beauty in novel and imaginative ways.

Just as entrepreneurs built seaside towns, we believe that it is the invention and drive of entrepreneurs that will revive them.

In this report we identify and celebrate examples of entrepreneurs leading the reinvention of five seaside towns across the UK, and take lessons from their successes.

We put forward the recommendations
 that we believe will secure an entrepreneur-led revitalisation, ranging from coastal devolution and investment in infrastructure – particularly broadband – to boosting educational outcomes and skills.

To achieve them, we must ensure that key stakeholders in seaside towns – entrepreneurs, investors, government, educators and charities – come together with a common vision geared towards nurturing entrepreneurship.

Ultimately, it is down to each of Britain’s seaside towns to formulate the unique strategy – based on the town’s identity – that will revive its fortunes.

Download this report

From ebb to flow: how entrepreneurs can turn the tide for seaside towns - The Centre for Entrepreneurs

With comment from today's Guardian:

Once more on to the beach: how Britain’s seaside towns bounced back

For years our coastal resorts have been in decline. But now bookings are on the rise, and over half of us will go to a British beach this year. So what has changed?

The co-author of From Ebb to Flow, a report exploring the great British seaside revival explains: 

Matthew Rock cites “belligerence and creativity” as qualities that will help declining seaside towns “turn the tide”. Creativity, of course, but you’ve got to love that belligerence – a dogged refusal to die.

And as one businessman in Bute comments:
“People aren’t interested in that old seaside ice cream cone and walk along the beach any more,” he says. “They’re looking for more.”

This, no doubt, is true. Yet nostalgia surely plays a part. Seaside towns are built on strata upon strata of happy memories; a sort of emotional geology.

Once more on to the beach: how Britain’s seaside towns bounced back | Travel | The Guardian

And from the East Devon Watch blog:

“BRITAIN’S SEASIDE TOWNS BOUNCING BACK”

But not because of high rise second homes or high-priced plastic entertainment – because of nostalgia for old-fashioned things such as piers and donkey rides mixed with modern attractions such as art galleries. THEY get Tracey Emin and Watne Hemmingway in to meld old and new – we get Moirai Capital Investments [very] Limited.

Typical EDDC – let the developers give them what they want rather than giving us what we want.

“Britain’s seaside towns bouncing back” | East Devon Watch

See also:
Futures Forum: The Blue New Deal from the New Economics Foundation >>> formal launch of 'action plan to deliver jobs and economic prosperity to coastal regions'
Futures Forum: Iconic coastal heritage sites set for £3 million makeover >>> but none in East Devon
Futures Forum: St Ives and seaside Britain: banning new second homes
Futures Forum: Beach huts "should not be a cash cow for the benefit of the privileged few"
Futures Forum: "Regency Seaside Town Sidmouth?" ... "Is there a future for a town with a past?"
Futures Forum: "Statistics show us that small and medium-size businesses (including those in tourism) are our life blood."
Futures Forum: Peak stuff: and the 'experience economy'
.
.
.