A spectacular weekend to launch the 2016 season in Morecambe

We are extremely grateful to those people who have offered services free of charge or donated prizes for our raffle or auction and, of course, we are grateful to all the people who have bought tickets and are supporting us by having a great time.

We can still accommodate a few more tables so, if there are any last minute party goers out there, please get in touch. Likewise, if anyone wants to donate to the raffle or auction that would be greatly appreciated too.

Plans are progressing well for MC16 with some really exciting additions to enhance the weekend: as well as some great acts on The Bay’s live stage and a bigger and better firework display, we are also having a ‘win a car’ competition.

This will be held in the motor village at the back of The Midland Hotel but I’m pretty sure the ‘small print’ will exclude me from entering, so I’m going to have to come up with a cunning disguise.

Because of the popularity of the artists whom we’ve already signed up, we’ve created extra space in The Bay Arena, and we will have two large screens streaming live action from the stage.

It really is going to be a spectacular weekend and I’m hoping it will launch a fantastic 2016 season for Morecambe. For anyone out there who might have ideas for events to bring people to the town and entertain residents, don’t forget Morecambe Town Council will actively support you and have a budget to help get events off the ground.

Their recently published budget includes an extra £10,000 for the 2016 season, so look out for details on how to apply for a slice of this fund.

In my opinion, it’s encouraging that even in these extremely hard times, our local council is progressive enough to realise a tourist destination needs something to attract tourists.

No one will argue with the fact we live in a spectacular location with magnificent views across The Bay, however, this isn’t enough to keep people coming here. Later this year we will have a new road and I hear people saying how much easier it will be to get to the motorway once it’s opened.

Never mind ‘getting to the motorway’, I want to see Morecambe’s town centre and promenade shops and businesses busy, and if that’s to happen we need to give them a reason for coming here. Here endeth the lesson.

I know it’s important we have a by-pass, it will help my business as much as any, however, we need to make sure we take advantage of the opportunity rather than just expect things to be better because of a new road, whatever it might be named.