Places features

It's a relationship of can't live with, can't live without. Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth are inseparable neighbours with an often bitter rivalry, but with so many similarities that they appear perfect partners.

They're coastal resorts vying for holidaymakers and day-trippers, but they have also competed on navigations to Norwich to import and export goods.

Each built up economies on fishing, food processing, shipbuilding, oil and gas exploration and now renewable wind power, creating competition among businesses and workers.

Following Gorleston

But both towns have a Labour MP and a Conservative-run town hall. Now the Boundary Committee suggests the two should become closer - that Lowestoft should turn its back on Suffolk and join Norfolk, as Gorleston did in 1974.

It's an idea that's sparked mixed reactions - including a competition to rebrand the area to show unity and flags of Suffolk being produced to maintain the status quo.

Peter Jay's family once owned the Hippodrome Circuses in both towns - and he says they always thought of the two towns as one.

Peter Jay supports the idea

Mr Jay, who now runs Great Yarmouth's circus, said: "My father even used to change acts between the two [circuses] and they used to change over in Hopton.

"We always thought of the two towns as one and it's crazy for them to have different mindsets.

"Really it's been taken to a much bigger game now with the Boundary Commission recommendation that Lowestoft joins a super Norfolk.

"This to me is amazing because it will bring Norwich into it. Norwich has always looked down on Yarmouth, Yarmouth doesn't get on with Lowestoft.

"This is crazy we're all in it together and Yarmouth and Lowestoft are really the coastal leisure part of the Norwich area.

"It must save fortunes if it's all put in together and we have one big tourism department - we can share the air show. A lot of things make a lot more sense and what they seem to be thinking in Whitehall is very logical.

"And this old rivalry, you can practically see Lowestoft from here, it's just crazy. A few politicians are wary but it must work and it must save money," he added.

Sticking to Suffolk

But James Bulstrode, the manager of Coes menswear shop in Lowestoft is resisting the merger, offering flags and bunting of Suffolk's patron St Edmund for sale to be displayed throughout the town.

He said: "I'd rather still be in Suffolk because if we went in Norfolk - were put together with Yarmouth - you'll have two weak spots in both counties amalgamated and that can make a bigger weak spot.

"Yarmouth has its own problems, we have our own problems, but put them together and I think there'd be a huge problem and we won't get our fair share."

New name

But Peter Jay and fellow businessman, the leisure and holiday tycoon Brian Potter of Hopton, have hopes of rebranding Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft to improve local prospects.

Some think the change could boost coastal tourism

They offered a £1,000 prize for a name that the two towns could work under, which was won by two women who independently suggested the name Golden Coast.

Mr Jay said: "I always thought of Lowestoft and Yarmouth coming together as part of this Golden Coast idea that me and Brian Potter have been promoting, but it's a much bigger game and I think it's going to come. I'm really looking forward to it.

"We always hated the Yartoft name because it sounded like an Alan Partridge name and we were sitting in Lowestoft having a Chinese meal together and Brian said, 'Let's put some money up and have a competition,' and that's what we did.

"It's not just about leisure, it's about jobs, it's about prosperity, it's about pushing the region forward not just nationally but internationally.

"It's much better if you are selling it in one hit for people to come here to live, to work, to develop businesses. It must work better.

"It makes sense and it's going to save money. What better reasons could you have," he added.