Plans to transform the UK's "worst" seaside town into the "Eden Project of the north" have hit a stumbling block.

       Morecambe, a town home to fewer than 35,000 people, has regularly ranked on lists of the country's gloomiest seaside towns but all that was due to change with a ￡50m plan to build the Eden Project Morecambe.

       A Telegraph ranking of the UK's seaside towns saw it score a miserable 24 out of 100 with only Blackpool, Weston-Super-Mare, South Shields and Rhyl getting a worse score, and the Eden Project plans were going to see a giant greenhouse bring the town back to its former glory.

       But now a local councillor has issued a warning that it could end up being unsuccessful when it opens in 2026 if sustainable and effective transport options are not provided to ferry visitors to the new attraction.

       Gina Dowding, leader of Lancashire County Council's Green Party group told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "For Eden North to be successful, it will mean thousands upon thousands of visitors coming every week. That requires better public transport, which is reliable and low carbon.

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       “But there is a need to look at the transport infrastructure in Morecambe itself. We can’t have cars parking all over the place in residential areas and we also need more pedestrian areas along the seafront to make sure the visitor experience is peaceful, safe and enjoyable.

       “It’s imperative that Lancashire County Council prioritises sustainable travel in the north of the county. So I sincerely hope we get funding for these measures and quickly."

       Ms Dowding brought a motion forward at a full council meeting last month making the case for new public transport saying it could be funded by the Local Transport Fund (LTF) which was introduced after the scrapping of HS2, but it was defeated.

       In the motion, which was supported by the council's Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, it was suggested that the town's rail link should be electrified.

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       At that meeting, Conservative cabinet member for economic development and growth Aidy Riggott said it was “too early in the process to make spending decisions”.

       He also noted that from initial conversations with officials from the Department for Transport, “it looks almost certain that the guidance will not support funding for the construction of rail infrastructure such as the electrification of the [Morecambe] line”.

       Riggott said the authority already had “a clear idea of the projects we think can bring the biggest benefit to our economy, businesses and residents”.

       He added: “Once the guidance is published, we will be talking to Lancashire’s MPs about what they see as the key priorities."

       It is thought the new jumbo greenhouse will create thousands of jobs locally, as well as drawing nearly three-quarters of a million tourists.

       The Eden Project has been contacted for comment.