On my mind

I ONLY managed three pages of my Christmas read of “Economics for Dummies” before the headache came.

For me, concepts such as macroeconomics, utility maximising consumer, oligopoly competition and asymmetric information are about as inviting as a dip in the estuary in winter.

So it was with some trepidation that I settled down to a new year read of the Economic Strategy for the Llanelli Constituency written by AM Lee Waters.

Whether your politics are to the right, left, top, bottom or inside out, it matters not, for Lee Waters represents us all in this part of the world in the Welsh Assembly.

Of course, for some local political leaders the idea of strategic development produces glazed eyes. One of the mantras in my profession was “Fail to plan, plan to fail” – a relentless truth.

In 2019 we need a visionary and optimistic path for our communities and this strategy gives us that while acknowledging the successful industrial past which can be emulated in the future as well as the current strengths in expertise in manufacturing, construction, transport and sport which can be can be harnessed to energise positive change.

The recommendations in the areas of economic development, transport, energy, digital services, town centre development, tourism and agriculture are clear and specific.

They are based on some clear-sighted analysis, which often can make fears irrelevant. But the implementation I suspect will depend on the energy and commitment in the local situation by local people who have caught the vision.

I love what a San Francisco columnist once wrote: “A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams”. Yet we know that when you have vision without action you end up with only the dreams.

Follow Graham on Twitter@GeeTDee