Clacton-on-Sea: Town named as second-most deprived seaside resort in England by Office for National Statistics

A north-east Essex seaside resort has been identified as the second-most deprived destination town in the country.

Tendring District Council leader Peter Halliday last night insisted Clacton was “making great inroads” after a study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found it was the second-most deprived larger-destination town in England in 2010.

The news comes as the council stages the first day of the annual Clacton Air Show today, with record numbers of flight fans anticipated – more than 100,000 over the two days – and a £4million boost to the local economy predicted. Mr Halliday admitted there were “pockets of deprivation” and problems concerning public health and cheap accommodation in Clacton, but insisted the council was confronting these issues and had made “massive changes”.

He said: “Council tax benefits only go to residents who have lived here for at least five years and you need to live here for three years before you are considered for the housing list.

“These are schemes recognised nationally. Councils all over the country are asking for our blueprints in tackling deprivation.

“We are making great inroads.”

After describing the Clacton Air Show as a “great opportunity” to showcase the town following the cancellations of the Southend and Lowestoft air shows, he added: “We are going to put Clacton on the map for the right reasons.

“It will be the only air show on the east coast and we hoping for a bumper turnout.

“It is a measure of the efforts of the council that the benefits to the local economy are going to be massive at zero-cost to the taxpayer.”