NORTH WALES' seaside towns are getting "the most generous support package in the UK" following the coronavirus outbreak, the Welsh Government has said.

Member of Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders said on Monday that coastal towns are among the "hardest hit" by the coronavirus lockdown but are not receiving targeted support.

She said that towns like Conwy have a high number of employees in industries that are reeling from the economic shock caused by lockdown and need an "immediate action plan" to tackle their needs ahead of the winter period.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said its £1.7bn business support package that includes coastal towns will help to protect 75,000 jobs and keep thousands of businesses afloat.

It added that the UK Government must "step-up" to provide further financial support for firms across Wales.

“Our £1.7bn business support package means companies in Wales, including those in coastal towns, have access to the most generous support package in the UK," the spokesperson said.

"This includes our £500m Economic Resilience Fund which has already supported thousands of firms in Wales, helping protect around 75,000 jobs.

“In January, we announced £90m of support for town centres through our Transforming Towns approach. We have provided an additional £9m to support town centres to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

"Coastal towns like Rhyl and Colwyn Bay are benefitting from our general town centre investment and also from our Coastal Communities Fund which has distributed £16m since 2011.

“Our budget will only go so far though and that is why businesses need the UK Government to step-up and provide the further financial support to recover from the wide reaching impacts of coronavirus.”

MS Janet Finch-Saunders said financial support for communities most at risk of job losses is even more important in light of the “difficult winter trading months ahead".

The Welsh Conservative manifesto in 2016 included the Seaside Town Fund which the party said aims to boost the retail sector and community regeneration, including cutting business rates, improving seaside facilities and giving communities a greater role in spending decisions.

“Despite my numerous letters and telephone meetings with Welsh Government Ministers, I am dismayed that Mark Drakeford’s administration has refused to act on my proposal that a tailored strategy be formulated, designed to support those hardest hit regions," she said.

“Ahead of what is predicted to be some very difficult winter trading months, it is vital that the Welsh Government answers Welsh Conservative calls to introduce our ambitious Seaside Town Fund proposal, which would enable communities to decide how public money is invested."