Preston to action...

17 Jun 2010, 08:43 Add Comment

The business community of Preston has an unprecedented opportunity of shaping the city's future over the next month, with Downtown Preston in Business putting the finishing touches to our City Thinking report, and Preston Vision undertaking its most comprehensive consultation exercise ever as it prepares to produce a ten year plan for England's newest city.

Cynics may suggest that government agencies always embark on 'consultation' programmes before presenting the conclusions that they always intended to propose anyway; but I get the feeling that this time it's different. Vision's chief executive, Eliot Ward, has a genuine desire to be inclusive in his approach, and is more than keen to include the private sector in not just the decision-making process, but the delivery of the plan. Another difference is that the proposals presented by Downtown are not simply a wish list of ideas that we intend to hand over to Vision and then forget all about. We will be lobbying hard to see as many of our policies as possible implemented.

Given that little in the way of regeneration and development has taken place in Preston for well over a decade, aside from the phenomenal growth of the university, the discussions we have led have been surprisingly positive. Suggestions from Downtown members have included more aggressive marketing of the city; less emphasis on the Tithebarn development and more priority given to maximising existing assets, such as the Flag Market, the Harris Museum, Winckley Square and the docks; and a serious review of current governance arrangements - the two-tier county and city council structure does not lend itself to quick, decisive and consistent decision-making. Maybe it is time for Preston to have an elected mayor?

We will present our final report at an event in Preston on 20 July that will also feature presentations from the chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein, and Liverpool business leader, David Wade Smith. I am sure our City Thinking proposals will create debate. More importantly though, they must act as a catalyst for action.

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