Mayoral candidates see business investment as vital to Torbay’s future

Hopefuls outline their plans for Torbay once in the Town Hall

With temperatures in the Bay soaring over the Bank Holiday weekend, the race to become Torbay’s next mayor is also heating up as candidates lay down their political aims.

Protecting and strengthening Torbay’s tourism industry is high on the hopefuls’ agendas, but high-tech and manufacturing businesses are seen as the key to unlocking the area’s future prosperity.

The mayoral candidate for the Green Party, Dr Sam Moss, told TalkTorbay of his innovative approach to tackling the Bay’s economic problems.

“I will make Torbay a focus for the now rapidly developing high-tech green industries, creating a different skills and income base which would retain more school leavers for our local economy,” he said.

In the wake of the Bute Court Hotel in Torquay and the Torbay Court Hotel in Paignton entering into administration in March, a diversification of Torbay’s economy appears more vital than ever.

Despite the tourism industry representing a third of Torbay’s economy, the low wages and seasonal nature of employment in this sector has done little to reduce the wage gap between Torbay residents and their national counterparts.

An independent study published earlier this year revealed that the wage gap in the Bay compared with the national average has widened from 35 per cent in 2004 to approximately 41 per cent in 2009.

With government spending cuts still to bite in Torbay, this wage gap looks set to rise unless the next mayor can grapple with these problems and attract non-tourism business investment.

Torquay-based businesswoman and independent mayoral candidate Susie Colley believes that the dependence on the tourism sector must be reduced if Torbay is to achieve greater economic success.

“I know the deprivation in the Bay and I know how we need to address it,” she said.

“We need to make sure that there are more jobs available so we keep our young people in the Bay.

“We have so much to offer; not just tourism and we must make sure our young people have good jobs to go to.

“Small industries or anything that will attract them to stay here – it is an absolute must that we address this issue.”

The controversial Kingskerswell bypass is seen by many as an essential component of any regeneration because it is argued that Torbay would be more attractive to manufacturers if road links were improved.

Speaking in February, former Treasury economist Owen Nankivell said that the amount of manufacturing in Torbay has reached “dire proportions”, with its share of total output at its lowest level since 1994.

Paul Clifford, independent mayoral candidate, supports the bypass scheme and believes it is imperative if manufacturing output is to be increased.

Speaking at Brixham Theatre on 19 April, Clifford said: “It’s essential to push for the ring road because that is essential to all the industries throughout Torbay.

“You can’t encourage industry to come to Torbay if they cannot get their products out.”

Current mayor and strong supporter of the bypass scheme Nick Bye believes he has a proven track record in supporting businesses and is determined to “turn the Bay around”.

“You need somebody at the Town Hall who’s prepared to make difficult and unpopular decisions to encourage investment and regeneration,” he said.

“The link road is now on the government’s final list for approval later in the year.

“I’m fed up with seeing friends and youngsters leaving the Bay because there simply aren’t the opportunities.”

Whatever side of the argument you fall on regarding the Kingskerswell bypass, the Torbay economy drastically needs dragging into the 21st Century if the flow of opportunity-deprived youngsters out of the area is to be stemmed.

What are your ideas for improving Torbay’s economy?