Bristol Media chairman says transport system vital for West of England LEP success
Paul Appleby, deputy creative chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), has stated that government support for Bristol’s integrated transport system will be vital to the Partnership’s success.
Speaking to The Drum following David Cameron’s visit to the LEP last Friday, Appleby said that the Prime Minister’s presence was a sign that the Partnership has stepped up to the plate, but warned that the UK Government must support it by helping it meet its requirements.
This includes supporting the Council’s recently-submitted £114 million bid for a rapid transport system in the LEP’s home city of Bristol. He also identified zero-latency broadband as an important factor to be addressed in the future.
“The key thing that government can help with is to be clear that things are going to happen. People will get together round an idea when they know that it is going to happen,” said Appleby.
“One thing that we made very clear to the Prime Minister was that there are things on the table now and we would expect to get a decent result out of that. It’s all very well to talk about enterprising development and delivery directly to consumers, but it won’t work without the transport hub, which is absolutely key to making this all work.”
The Enterprise Zone will give established and fledgling creative businesses access to superfast broadband – widely seen as the key enabler of growth – along with business support services and, potentially, financial incentives.
“I think what Mr Cameron’s visit means is that the West of England Enterprise Partnership is well-regarded,” said Appleby.
“We’ve stepped up to the plate, got plenty of ideas and have the kind of industries involved, including creative, that clearly have the potential to generate economic wealth.”
Mr Cameron’s last-minute visit to Bristol came following the announcement of four LEPs in Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham and Bristol. He was joined by Greg Clark, the newly-appointed minister for cities who will be overseeing the development of the LEPs.
The Prime Minister met with members of the LEP including Appleby and chairman Colin Skellet at Bristol’s Creative quarter, The Paintworks, before visiting Aardman Animations.
“The UK has had low levels of economic growth,” said Appleby.
“For David Cameron this was an opportunity to see a positive story: that the West of England LEP was in good shape and that it was heading in the right direction.”
Appleby said he hopes that as one of the first partnerships, the West of England would be able to inform the process of setting up future LEPs and set an example for them to follow.
“The plans for the rapid transport system around the city will help because Temple Meads has thousands of people travelling through it every day,” he said.
“This isn’t a science park on the edge of the city, but is very much at its heart – it’s a huge opportunity, not a remote thing and has the potential to be part of the fabric of the city as a whole.”