Last week Maldon traders announced their intentions to set up a town promotions group to attract more visitors to discover its unique features.

Now on a wider scale district councillors have announced a programme to develop the district as a tourist destination and boost the economy.

Enhancing Maldon district's attractiveness and viability as a place for business and tourism is among the elements of a new economic development programme for the forthcoming year.

The programme is focusing on four key areas of action:

Inward investment.

Strengthening competitiveness of local businesses.

Skills and employability.

Developing and promoting the district as a tourist/visitor destination.

A report from head of planning policy services, Linda Weeks, shows that district unemployment levels have fallen steadily in recent years but there are significant levels of young unemployed - with almost half of the district's jobless living on the Dengie Peninsula.

The decommissioning of Bradwell Power Station - the district's largest employer - will impact on the local economy with the loss of around 250 jobs over the next five years.

"We know it puts several million pounds into the local economy either through salaries and buying in services from the local business people, so we needed a strategy," said Cllr Bob Boyce, chairman of the environment and economic development select committee.

The council aims to protect and consolidate the district's traditional and emerging industries by securing private sector investment in the provision of facilities to develop the district's reputation as a premier leisure and business area.

It also aims to develop the district's image focusing on its unique combination of attractive landscape and maritime activities.

Cllr Boyce said: "Maldon district is a very attractive rural area with rivers and yachting facilities, golf courses and within 40 or 50 miles of London. It's a very attractive area and we have tried to use that to attract firms in.

"Maldon is a hive of activity, there have been concerns from some of the traders because of the roadworks but overall it is a very vibrant town.

"Burnham I think, has some problems, mainly because it isn't a shopping centre but the shops it provides are mainly for the inhabitants and those in the hinterland."

By Amanda Brandon

Reporter's e-mail: amanda.brandon@essex-chronicle.co.uk

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