MORECAMBE and Lancaster's best chance of getting Government cash to help bolster the local economy would be to team up with other Lancashire resorts, claims Geraldine Smith. The Morecambe MP has already contacted neighbouring MPs in a bid to put together a joint coastal bid for assisted area status. And Lancaster's Hilton Dawson is hoping Labour's big guns will visit the city during their party conference in Blackpool to hold an 'economic summit.'

Both MPs are concerned at the district's high unemployment rate and lack of manufacturing industry which was recently made worse by the loss of more than 400 jobs at local factories.

"The best chance the area has of attracting assisted area status is through a coastal bid including the resorts of Blackpool, Fleetwood, Morecambe and the historic city of Lancaster," said Geraldine.

"Previous attempts to gain funding have failed and also the assisted areas are currently being cut back by a quarter, therefore the only realistic chance we have is to join forces and present a co-ordinated bid, highlighting the decline in tourism, the high levels of unemployment and low earnings which have seriously affected the economies of both areas."

Geraldine has contacted Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden, Blackpool's two MPs, plus Hilton Dawson to gain their support for a joint coastal bid for assisted area status.

Meanwhile Hilton is busy trying to focus Labour sights on the area's "serious unemployment problems and lack of manufacturing industry."

He said: "The city has been neglected for so long that I think it's vital that all the Government's big guns are trained on our problems. We need real investment in rail and roads. We need new finance to develop and re-develop our industrial areas."

Hilton has written to John Prescott, Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson inviting them to a jobs and economy summit.

"It would be great if we could get John, Gordon and Peter together in Lancaster but even if we can't I will be meeting with them individually as soon as Parliament resumes."

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