Summit fosters a cross-border alliance to kick-start the ‘Western Powerhouse’
GREATER economic and business ties between south Wales and the southwest of England are needed to counter the threat of the Northern Powerhouse, a conference was told yesterday.
A mainly business and political audience of more than 350 drawn from both sides of the Bristol Channel attended the inagural Severn Growth Summit organised by the Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns.
The Celtic Manor Resort, which sits between the two cities of Cardiff and Bristol, hosted the event.
Mr Cairns said a “Western Powerhouse” would be of benefit to the whole of south Wales and not just the south-east.
He said the removal of the tolls on the Severn crossing will mean Bristol does not need to look east to London anymore.
Speaking after the summit, Mr Cairns said: “I think this is also an opportunity for the south-west of England to look further west.
“Clearly their natural business connectivity before now has been towards London. The removing of the Severn toll allows us to create a position where businesses in Bristol and south-west England can start looking across to Wales and Swansea and west Wales.
“I am excited about the opportunity removing the tolls brings to the whole of the south Wales economy.
“I think every corridor across the south Wales economy is set to benefit [from] a good strong ecomnomic case that has been developed by this joint region.”
The appetite for more crossborder co-operation was demonstrated yesterday with more than 350 delegates attending the Severn Growth Summit.
“It is about how we project ourselves nationally and particularly internationally – we are stronger together,” said James Durie, chief executive at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and West of England initiative.
His thoughts were echoed by Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, who said the summit showed the passion from both sides of bridge to come together to work more collaboratively.
“Having worked in Wales myself for many years and commuted, I appeciate what the challenges are in both… and how it is we can work together to bring the best in terms of strengths from both of those regions together, to make us even stronger for the future,” he said.
In his keynote speech, Mr Cairns said the summit was born out of an appreciation for what the region has to offer, and the catalyst was the removal of the tolls on the Severn Crossings.
This could, he said, create an economic region to rival the established Northern Powerhouse and Midland Engine.
“One of the key drivers behind the Northern Powerhouse initiative was the significant number of people commuting between Liverpool and Manchester – however there are actually more people commuting between Bristol and either Cardiff or Newport.
“This shows that this region has huge potential, potential that rivals that of the Northern Powerhouse or Midlands Engine.”
Mr Cairns also said his department is looking to establish what sectors have the greatest growth potential.
“From the world-famous Aardman Animations in Bristol to Cloth Cat in Cardiff, the creative industries sector is thriving and represents one of the largest sectors in the regions outside London – we must take advantage of this talent,” Mr Cairns said.
“There are over 4,000 creative businesses in Bristol, with a further 1,700 creative businesses in Cardiff.”
The number of creative industries in the region led more than one speaker to float the idea of a bid for the location of Channel 4.
A Conservative election pledge was to move the broadcaster outside of London and Mr Durie believes that, if it is not already a done deal, the new Western Powerhouse region could work together to pitch for it as a location.
In his address, Dylan Jones-Evans, professor of entrepreneurship at the University of South Wales. cited the way the Cardiff City Region Deal brought together key actors from different regions, putting aside political differences to combine powers and unlock significant growth as an example for how they could work together.
He said it is vital regional economies of the UK look to work together to ensure their businesses can not only be resilient but, more importantly, are given the opportunity for growth and development going forward.
Prof Jones-Evans said the opening of the Severn Bridge to free traffic could be transformational only if full advanatge is taken of the opportunites it offers.
He said that no discussion would be complete without transport and added: “The current transport provision of road and rail between south Wales and the west of England is not fit for purpose for a modern 21stcentury economy.”
Prof Jones-Evans said better connectively needs to be a priority, calling for 30-minute train trips between the cities every 15 minutes.
“There needs to be a safe, fast, reliable and resilient road and motorway corridor along the arc between Cardiff and Bristol, and now with 80,000 vehicles crossing the bridge every day and no toll booths to delay them, there is certainly an urgent need for the Welsh Government to make a positive decision on the M4 relief road to maximise the benefits to both commuters and businesses,” he added.
The point was echoed by Denise Lovering, of the Bedwas-based Glenside Commercials, who questioned why the M4 relief road was not done before the removal of the tolls.
The summit was brought to a close by Ben Lucas of Metro Dynamics, which two years ago had authored a report that examined the benefits of greater “sharing, matching and learning” between the three city regions.
Mr Lucas said that there is a clear appetite for collaboration but it was now time for action.
He said the removal of the tolls could be the opportunity to bring the regions together, but there should also be a project that will drive people to work together.