With millions of pounds of government funding set to come into Skegness over the next decade, people in the town are being asked for their views on how this money should be invested.
The consultation, launched by Skegness Neighbourhood Board, aims to understand what people want for the town, and their priorities for where the funding should be spent.
This consultation aims to build on the findings from engagement last year which took place after £20M was announced for Skegness through the Long Term Plan for Towns.
With a change of government in 2024, this programme was put on pause but has now been reformed and expanded into the Plan for Neighbourhoods – and the local community is at the very heart of deciding how this money should be spent in Skegness.
There are a number of ways for people to get involved:
- Fill in a short online survey and also enter a prize draw to win £100 in shopping vouchers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/yourskegness
- There’s also a survey just for under 25s with four prizes of shopping vouchers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/yourskegnessyoungpeople
- Plus, there’s a competition for 4-16 year olds to draw, paint, and create their perfect Skegness. There’s a prize draw with six great prizes; entries should be photographed and emailed to Connected.Coast@e-lindsey.gov.uk by Monday 25th August;
- Freepost leaflets can also be found in locations around the town including Hildreds, Tower Gardens Pavillion, the Embassy Theatre, and The Storehouse, amongst other venues. Share your thoughts on three questions, send the leaflet back freepost and there’s also a chance to enter another prize draw;
- Community interviewers will be out and about over the next few weeks, ready to speak to people and capture their views;
- And community groups, charities, and organisations in Skegness are also being offered the chance to run their own engagement activity or event to get people’s thoughts, with funding available to support these. Find out more in the toolkit here
All the feedback collected from people will be shared with Skegness Neighbourhood Board, which has been recently formed with representatives from business, community groups, the Town Council, health, and more.
The Skegness Neighbourhood Board is overseeing the development and delivery of the plans for the funding in Skegness as Chair Paul McCooey explained: “This funding gives us a huge opportunity to bring the improvements that people in Skegness want to see and make long-lasting changes that benefit all of us.
“We are absolutely committed to working together with local people to make sure the plans for this funding reflect the community’s aspirations and this consultation is just one part of what will be ongoing engagement.
“Please do take a moment to have your say and get involved in whichever way works for you. The Board wants to understand what you think and your feedback will inform how this money is spent in our town.
“We are also really keen to hear from local community groups, charities, and organisations who can deliver community engagement activities for us, with funding available for these.
“We look forward to hearing people’s views, and collaborating with the community, now and long into the future.”
Councillor Steve Kirk, East Lindsey District Council portfolio holder for the coastal economy, said: “It is crucial that the feedback of those who live, work and visit here in Skegness is at the heart of how this potentially transformative funding opportunity is used.
“Your views and suggestions are vital for helping to shape these plans and the town itself, and we want to hear all ideas big and small, and as ambitious or innovative as you like. I am confident that, if we all work together, we can ensure that this investment is put to the best use possible, and can protect, promote and improve Skegness, now and for many years into the future.”
Find out more here: Shaping Skegness Together