COUNCIL leaders have banded together to produce a roadmap which will help rebuild Lancashire's economy after the coronavirus crisis.

Covid-19 has adversely affected Lancashire's entire economic base, with manufacturing and tourism in particular, at risk of irreparable damage.

To date, more than 171,200 people have been furloughed, 18,834 people made redundant, and as of May, 82 businesses across the county have gone into liquidation or administration.

With the pandemic predicted to have significant impacts across the county for years to come, council bosses, along with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have devised and published a roadmap to redefine Lancashire as it emerges from lockdown.

This bold new vision also details how the county can form a key part of rebuilding the UK economy, and explains how urgent action is needed to safeguard the economy of Lancashire to help it flourish in the future.

Leader of Lancashire County Council, Councillor Geoff Driver CBE, said: "Lancashire has come together at this really difficult time to plan a way forward to protect our economy, and help it grow in the future.

"These plans provide an accurate blueprint of where we are now, and the challenges we face, and by working together we can show just how much the county, our residents and our businesses have to offer."

The roadmap aims to immediately identify the sectors, occupations and places most severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, and bring forward immediate solutions to lessen the impact.

It particularly focuses on the need to reopen towns, attractions, countryside and destinations, support industry to restart, stimulate business growth and align the workforce to the jobs that will be created.

Work will be done to understand the impact on businesses, workers and places as well as look at accelerating capital infrastructure projects to generate new jobs in the near future with the help of the Government.

Councillor Phil Riley, executive member for growth and development at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “We need to grasp any opportunity that has the potential to bring about investment to help with recovery.

"Supporting businesses and residents has to be a priority.”

The plan also outlines bringing forward a delivery programme to respond to the different needs of the county's prime sectors, with a clear focus on business growth, job creation, skills and employment, stating that Lancashire is a "brilliant collective of brands, brains, products, people, places, services, heritage, land and opportunity, with huge potential for growth."

Councillor Lynn Williams, acting executive leader of Blackpool Council, said: "Recovering from the impact of COVID-19 is the greatest challenge of our lifetime, which is why we must start planning now for a brighter, sustainable, more resilient future.

"It is so important that we support each other on the road to recovery.

"By working closely alongside neighbouring authorities and partner organisations, we will be able to share knowledge and make informed decisions together.

"Everyone involved is fully committed to making the right decisions for our businesses, residents and communities.

"Lancashire will come back stronger as a result of this collaborative effort."

The full 29 page report can be found at lancashire.gov.uk.