Western Morning News Article

Of all the regions in the UK, the South West and Cornwall and Devon in particular, face the greatest challenges over the next few years. 
 
The four pillars of the region’s economy have been in various states of decline over the past three decades.  Tourism, fishing, agriculture and defence all employ fewer people today than one, five, ten or thirty years ago. 
 
The invention of the jet engine and the development of the package holiday offers people a bucket and spade vacation with guaranteed sunshine, often for less money, from a regional airport closer to their home than the English coast.
 
Fewer fishermen and boats are required for the same sized haul, as new technology has increased the catch to the point where some species of fish are near extinction. 
 
Modern farming techniques and global competition have increased yields while forcing the small family farmer out of business.
 
The end of the Cold War and the reappraisal of Britain’s role in the world has already led to a reduction in the amount of defence related economic activity, even before Devonport loses its role housing Britain’s submarine fleet.
 
Tourist resorts have been particularly affected as today’s visitor is less likely to spend a week in a locally owned hotel or bed & breakfast, eating out in family run cafes, pubs and restaurants and patronizing locally owned retail businesses.  More likely he or she will drive here, buy all their needs in a superstore, and stay in self-catering accommodation or a second home.  If they venture out to eat or drink it will be to a national branded pub or restaurant.  The result is that less of their money stays in the local economy.
 
Tourism is, and will continue to be, a major contributor to the local economy but the days of the mass exodus of holidaymakers from our cities heading down the A38/M5 for their main holiday are long gone.
 
Like many other resorts, my home area of Torbay has to continuously reappraise what it can offer to attract people, whether for business or recreation.  We should concentrate and build on what we do well.  Hospitality, health and heritage are Torbay’s strengths alongside up and coming creative and hi tech industries.
 
We start with a number of advantages.  We have one the world’s most beautiful natural harbours and one of the most pleasant climates in all England.  We have first rate hotels and conference facilities together with nationally renowned restaurants and good leisure facilities.  With high performing local schools, an outstanding further education college and a skilled workforce, Torbay ought to be easy to market to the visitor and the inward investor.
 
We know there are a number of local and national barriers to investment – our poor transport links with the rest of the country are top of the list alongside our lack of fiscal and political independence from central government.
 
Just as was the case under the Conservatives, the lack of understanding of Westcountry issues by the Labour Government overwhelmingly hampers progress in the region. 
 
We certainly need more assistance from Government to speed our way out of this recession, but long-term success demands that we are able to take more decisions for ourselves and keep more of the money we earn circulating in our local economy.
 
Not everything depends on the benevolence of the Government; if local communities, councillors, elected mayors, business leaders and so on pull together, the impact can be immense.  Many small communities have looked at innovative solutions to encourage diverse and very successful local businesses.  We now need to replicate this thinking across the region.
 
In Torbay we have the chance to pull together and do just this.  We have a focal point of political leadership in the post of elected mayor which in theory should make cutting through red tape easy. 
 
Who else but a Mayor could invite all the movers and shakers in an area together to plan a strategy to meet the needs of the communities that make up Torbay over the coming years.  A summit to determine the options that could then be put to residents in a formal consultation exercise to develop for Torbay a ‘People’s Vision’ rather than a ‘Mayoral Vision’.
 
It is not too late to rescue a plan for the future that originates locally and has public ownership and support rather than the oft criticized Mayoral Vision dreamt up by external consultants.
 
Without public ownership of where we want to be we will never unite the community behind the necessary changes the bay needs to address and meet the challenges that face us.
 
It matters not who sits in the driving seat in the town hall and who sits on the Green benches at Westminster if the vision of the political leadership in the town hall doesn’t command widespread support outside.
 
What matters is engaging the public with the decisions that need to be taken and letting them own the process of change.  With no Mayoral election until May 2011 there is time to host that summit, get people together, and start the ball rolling.
 
The Government is very keen to have new forms of local leadership, with elected mayors at the forefront of this policy but if Torbay does not make this system work, there is no hope of councils in the rest of the region making the change.