Visit by influential baroness puts Mablethorpe's future under the spotlight

Baroness Hilary Armstrong of Hill Top (Durham), who was a Labour MP between 1987 and 2010, is now chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON), which has been created to review the state of England’s most deprived areas.

Her trip to Mablethorpe followed the announcement that the town is is receive up to £20 million in funding through the government’s Pride In Place programme, starting in April 2027.

The money will be spent on a variety of projects and activities, all decided upon by local people, with the aim of injecting thriving, new life into the seaside town.

During the visit, which took place at the Campus for Future Living, Baroness Armstrong and her fellow ICON commissioners were updated on the positive impact that investment has had to date in Mablethorpe through the government’s Town Deal funding.

The event also brought together key stakeholders, including East Lindsey District Council, Mablethorpe and Sutton Town Council and a wide range of local charities and community groups.

The 80-year-old baroness said: “Policy-making must be informed by the experience of residents on the ground.

"That’s why ICON has been conducting dozens of visits across the country, seeking to learn directly from communities.

“As part of this commitment, I was delighted to visit Mablethorpe. I saw, first hand, the energy driving the town’s regeneration, not least at the Campus for Future Living.

“Pride In Place has the potential to build on this, putting the local community at the heart of change. I would strongly encourage local residents to find out how they can get involved in the programme.”

Mablethorpe’s Pride In Place programme is currently gathering feedback from residents via an online survey, ‘conversation cards’, community meetings and events.

It will be overseen by a Mablethorpe Neighbourhood Board, recruitment for which is taking place, with its chair set to be appointed soon.

Coun Craig Leyland, leader of East Lindsey District Council, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Baroness Armstrong and her colleagues to Mablethorpe as the work to develop the town’s Pride In Place programme gets under way.

“The event provided the community with an opportunity to share an insight into the town, its opportunities and the challenges, and to discuss ways that the funding could make a difference.

“We are at a key point in our Pride In Place journey in Mablethorpe with an absolutely clear focus on community engagement, and it was great to hear Baroness Armstrong and her team’s thoughts as we move forward.”

The event included a presentation from Naomi Wilkinson-Baker, director of operations at the Station Leisure and Learning Centre in Mablethorpe, and a tour of the Campus for Future Living, hosted by Hannah Taylor-Dales, head of business development at the Acis Group, a charity that supports people through housing, education and skills.

Hannah said: “We were delighted to host Baroness Armstrong and ICON at the Campus for Future Living and showcase the important role that this inclusive and welcoming space plays in our community.

“Having recently marked our first anniversary, we were pleased to be able to talk to the baroness and her fellow commissioners about the difference the campus has made.

“It was also wonderful that she visited while the adult autism group was in attendance and to meet members of our community garden group, who help make the campus such a vibrant place for local people.”

ICON is supported by a small, cross-party group of experts, practitioners and others with a keen interest in neighbourhood issues.

The Pride In Place programme in Mablethorpe will bring together local people as well as representatives from organisations such as the police, East Lindsey District Council and other partners.

Community engagement is key to its success, and there will be opportunities for locals to get involved in the months and years ahead.