THE future of Morecambe lays in the hands of Lancaster City Council’s Cabinet.

Members are being advised to agree a two-year pact to work with developers Urban Splash to regenerate the Midland Hotel when they meet next week Not striking a deal could jeopardise its refurbishment – and leave the whole resort stranded, warns a report.

“Not proceeding would seriously damage the council’s credibility with developers and would cause doubt about future redevelopment of the area – a major plank in the Morecambe Action plan,” it states.

Urban Splash is believed to be ready to submit a planning application for the listed hotel in August and wants to hold talks on the future of the whole area.

The news comes in the same week that Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith is urging the Government to set up a regeneration trust to boost coastal resorts.

She says Urban Splash’s venture is a step in the right direction – and is confident the Government will pump more cash into tackling deprivation.

Ms Smith is one of 15 coastal MPs to lobby for a trust to target the problems affecting seaside resorts.

“We want the Government to allocate money to seaside areas because they are in decline. The deprivation easily matches the inner cities,” she says.

She believes that in areas such as the West End of Morecambe, blocks of rented properties should be turned into offices, and she also wants to see shared ownership schemes to encourage property conversions for people over 50 as well as properties being demolished to create open space.