High street regeneration
Regenerating our high streets and town centre is no easy task, however across South Devon there is steady progress to be seen. Through the creation of Banking Hubs in Brixham and Dartmouth, the formation of new Chambers of Commerce to support local businesses, and even the awarding of Levelling Up Partnership money and the Stronger Towns Fund, we can see a continual stream of investment into our towns, our businesses and our high streets.
We start from a strong base since South Devon’s towns have long had a vibrant sense of community that values localism. This has meant that when compared to other parts of the country there is no contest when it comes to whose high street is more successful. However, we cannot be complacent about this and we must ensure that we are able to secure and develop our towns so that they remain integral to community life.
That means we must improve the way in which we spend the allocated money, streamline the planning process to remove old building and replace with new, fitting structures that benefit local communities and work for the future. Only by speeding up the process can we ensure that our towns are able to keep attracting new ventures, residents and tourists alike and that economy continues to grow.
Blue Economy
We often talk about the tourism and hospitality economy or the rural economy, but rarely the blue economy. As an island nation, we do not make enough from what surrounds us on our coastline. For instance, maritime energy is now becoming more commonplace across the world, yet we have failed to be an earlier adopter. Harnessing the power of our tides and waves should play a part in powering every coastal village, town and city. Returning to the concept of tidal lagoons and barriers would supply us with long term cheap energy that is constant and reliable. Unlocking this sector would not only push us to be greener faster, but also ensure energy security for the next century.
Beyond energy, we need to look at our fishing and aquaculture sectors. Fishermen are the farmers of the sea and whether catching fish or shellfish, they can play a part in providing healthy, sustainable food that also restores and enhances our marine biodiversity. Simple tweaks and less bureaucracy are key to unlocking these historic sectors and ensuring that our coastal communities continue this noble trade.
The Blue Economy is the UK’s untapped resource which can play an enormously positive role in helping to safeguard our natural environment while also producing food that is sustainable and healthy.
Berry Head
The work of Cllr Jason Hutchings needs to be recognised. In working with Brixham Town Council and Torbay’s excellent Harbour Master, Rob Parsons, he has helped introduced new measures to curtail the illegal fishing activities at Berry Head as well as stamp out the anti-social behaviour. In doing so, he has helped to protect the UNESCO site and important historical fort for future generations. It all goes to show what can be achieved when you have excellent local councillors who work for the interest of their communities.