It’s claimed the falling pound, after the post Brexit vote, will be a boost to the number of tourists coming to Britain. I imagine most of the people coming to the Coast, whenever the sun shone in recent weeks, are more likely to be home grown but it’s great to see so many.

As Parliament rose for its summer recess I met the Mayor and senior council officers for an update on regeneration. I agreed to lobby Ministers for help to secure the funding necessary to redevelop the northern promenade in Whitley Bay, which I have duly done. I also went away with a lasting impression of our Elected Mayor Norma Redfearn’s steely determination to see the regeneration completed soon.

I helped to set up the Seaside Group of Labour MP’s in Parliament to draw attention, for the first time, to the decline of seaside and coastal communities. Since then, successive Governments have instructed their departments, when making decisions, to consider the needs of seaside and coastal towns including regeneration. It makes political sense to do so since there are around 20 to 30 seaside seats whose votes could determine the outcome of an election.

Looking forward, I’ve pencilled in a September meeting with the New Economic Foundation to discuss their New Deal initiative, the centre piece of which is delivering new jobs for coastal communities through a healthier coastal and marine environment. The campaign goes on.