A BLACKPOOL politician has launched a campaign to breathe new life into fading seaside resorts.

Richard Booth, Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Blackpool South, has drawn up a Seaside Charter - a 15-point plan to regenerate the UK's beachfront holiday scene with help from local, national and European governments.

He hopes to initiate various pieces of legislation and apply for National Lottery cash and funding from the European Union in order to ensure a bright future for seaside resorts.

Under Mr Booth's charter, there would even be more powers for local authorities to improve tourism care and expenditure.

Mr Booth believes a future Conservative government would take action on his charter to bring new opportunities to all seaside resorts, including Blackpool.

Launching the charter at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Mr Booth said: "The Seaside Charter would help create new prosperity and new jobs - a vibrant local economy which would add greatly to the quality of life for all of us living in the Blackpool area.

"One of the points made in the charter is that we need to develop the success of the Department of National Heritage, focusing on traditional seaside resorts.

"We would do this by establishing a coastal development unit under direct control of the heritage department.

"This would cut bureaucracy and channel sources of funding."

Barry Morris, former director of tourism for Blackpool, agrees with Mr Booth's assertions.

He said: "This is a very good charter. It is what the tourism industry in Blackpool needs."

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