SEASIDE towns like those in Tendring must be inspired to reinvent themselves, a report by Lords says.

A report by the House of Lords Select Committee on Regenerating Seaside Towns says many seaside towns and coastal communities are in desperate need of improvements to transport, housing and broadband.

It said better access to further and higher education for young people in seaside towns is needed too.

The chairman of the committee, Lord Bassam of Brighton, grew up on Great Bentley’s De Vere estate and went to Clacton Secondary Modern School, now Clacton Coastal Academy, from 1964 to 1971.

He said: “For too long, seaside towns have been neglected. They suffer from issues rooted in the decline of their core industries, most notably domestic tourism, but also in fishing, shipbuilding and port activity, and from their location at the ‘end of the line’.

“The potential impact of Brexit on these towns, particularly the hospitality sector, also remains an open question.

“What is needed is a package of strategic initiatives and interventions where national and local government work together to address issues such as transport, housing, post-school education and high-speed broadband.

“Places like Brighton and Bournemouth have shown that ‘the seaside’ can successfully reinvent itself.

“The committee is confident that if our recommendations are pursued seaside towns can once again become prosperous and desirable places to live in and visit.”

The report recognised the challenges of “peripherality” in coastal areas, which it said can be overcome by improving digital connectivity, such as high-speed broadband.

It called on the Government to facilitate partnership working between the Further Education and Higher Education sectors in isolated areas to tackle limited access to education. The report added that poor-quality housing is a significant problem.