Save our seaside – campaign to give UK beach towns the same status as castles and historic houses

The Kursaal in Southend, Essex, now neglected, was one of the world’s first amusement parks. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer

The British seaside may be derided by some for being as tacky as the candyfloss stuck to the side of your mouth. Yet tackiness is fundamental to its charm, according to campaigners who say that seaside heritage sites should be protected as fiercely as castles and stately homes.

The Seaside Heritage Network (SHN) says amusement parks, lidos and scenic railways are all part of the UK’s role in the creation of modern tourism and should be cherished.