It was time for fun Reform MPs Richard Tice and Lee Anderson took part in a Battle of the Dodgems during a visit to Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells. During their visit they chatted to the theme park owner James Mellors about the challenges on the coast.
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00:00*** MUSIC ***
00:17Mr Tye, it's good to see you back along the Skegness coast.
00:22Since you were elected, you don't seem to have seen so much of me.
00:26I've been here lots and lots, but we've been busy talking to businesses,
00:30talking to constituents, doing surgeries and meeting owners.
00:34Here at Fantasy Island, it's fantastic. It's sunny.
00:37We've just done a massive battle between Lee Anderson and I on the Dodgems.
00:41Naturally, I won.
00:42But also meeting the owners of Fantasy Island, some of the holiday parks around,
00:47understanding what their needs are, more power, the right planning consents.
00:52Really, really important.
00:53So I'm hearing about that, where I can help, where I can support.
00:56That's what I want to do. Get stuck in.
00:59And really, we need growth and more jobs, more investment.
01:03And that all comes with energy, with enthusiasm, with investment
01:08and getting rid of the blockages, the bureaucracy that drive us all mad.
01:12Well, I was watching you all on the Dodgems and you look like you're having great fun.
01:17Do you think that you must have the best constituency in the UK?
01:22Definitely. As I said in my maiden speech, it's the most fertile constituency in the UK.
01:27We've got the history of Boston, the incredible, productive farmland
01:32and sensational Skegness.
01:33Millions of people come here every year for fun and games and Dodgems and rides.
01:40I'm not so good on the high rides. A bit too old for that.
01:42But nevertheless, loads of fun to be had. Don't miss it.
01:45Good to see you. Thank you.
01:49James, you just had a meeting with our MP. Can I ask what you were talking about?
01:55Just a general chat about the area. It's generally really nice to see Richard up here so early on, really
02:01as it's just been voted as MP.
02:03So it's great for him to come up and show interest in Ingham Holds and Skegness.
02:07Obviously, we're having Fantasy Island here and the Pier down in Skegness.
02:11He's showing an interest in the whole area, which is really promising and good to see.
02:16I guess you've been filling him in on some of the amazing plans that you've got for the coast.
02:22Yeah, but one of the main things that Richard was interested in again was the problems.
02:26What is holding us back from investing further? What is holding back on the growth?
02:29So it's great having the plans, but there's always those lines in the way.
02:34We were talking about general things like access, power, things are going through the roof.
02:38It's such a seasonal business that we struggle at times because of the seasonality.
02:43But yeah, he's really interested in trying to see where he can help out.
02:46So positive. So yeah, it's really nice to meet him.
02:49Mr Anderson, welcome to Skegness.
02:52You've been having a look at how the other MPs carry on their constituency work, I see.
02:58Well, look, I've been coming to Skegness for the past 55 years.
03:03I'm from Ashfield, a coal mining community in Nottinghamshire,
03:06and this is where we used to come on our holidays.
03:07I still come here, actually. I go to Butlin's up the road most years on the 70s and 80s weekends.
03:12But as a family, with my mum and dad and my grandma and grandad,
03:15we used to come to Skegness every single summer.
03:17Sometimes in a caravan, sometimes in Inglemill, sometimes in Skegness.
03:21You know, and I used to take my kids, and when they have children,
03:24they'll probably bring their kids here as well.
03:25So it's sort of in our DNA.
03:28I guess it's been interesting talking to one of the big site owners
03:34about how things are and plans for the future.
03:38Yeah, I mean, the thing is in this country,
03:41you're pretty much reliant on the weather.
03:43You know, if we could have sunny days like this every day of the year,
03:45then places like this would do much better,
03:47and people tend to go abroad now, they're more creative in their holidays.
03:50But you must not forget that this place is steeped in history,
03:53it's got some great memories for lots of families,
03:56and some great entertainment.
03:57And the owners of this wonderful place are doing a cracking job.
04:00Yeah, well, I know you're about to take in some fish and chips,
04:03so I won't hold you up any longer.
04:04But, yeah, have a nice day while you're here.
04:07I'm having a salad.