Bannatyne told to finish his seaside 'vanity project'

Duncan Bannatyne has been accused of abandoning a seaside regeneration project which featured in a reality television programme presented by the Dragons' Den star.

Residents of struggling Suffolk resort Felixstowe have demanded that the Scottish entrepreneur return to the town and prove that the Virgin 1 show 'Duncan Bannatyne's Seaside Rescue' was not simply a "TV vanity project".

During the six-part series, Bannatyne visited some of Britain's most deprived coastal towns. In one of the episodes, he spent time at Manning's Amusement Park in Felixstowe.  

"Mr. Bannatyne needs to prove it wasn't just a made-for-television vanity project and continue helping Britain's struggling seaside towns," said Charlie Mullen, owner of Manning's Amusement Park. "The Felixstowe show was shot on a bank holiday, one of the busiest days of the year. The 'dolly birds' featured in the programme were bused in from London as far as I know. So we need a little more than smoke and mirrors if Felixstowe is really going to move forward."

According to Mullen, Bannatyne made a "fleeting visit" to Felixstowe last month but not to advise or offer any further marketing advice to the traders of Felixstowe, but instead "to receive free ice cream and rides for his wife and child".

During the television programme, Bannatyne advised Mullen to change the name of his Golf shop Golf FX to 'Harry Putter' but after Virgin’s lawyers feared Disney legal action, it was instead changed to 'Magical Golf'.

According to a press notice sent to BusinessZone.co.uk, Bannatyne was promised the role of 'Seaside Tsar' by former prime minister Gordon Brown in Labour won the general election. 

A public meeting will be held in Felixstowe on 6 August.