'Roads are to blame for lack of investment'
SWANSEA's Council leader says a lack of decent roads and funding has led to the city losing out on business to Cardiff.
SA1 Swansea Waterfront was, according to the Welsh Assembly Government, designed to be a magnet for new investment and jobs for Swansea.
But Swansea Council leader Chris Holley claimed the 100-acre development had not been able to attract big business.
Mr Holley said SA1 Swansea Waterfront had never had the same levels of investment as Cardiff Bay.
He said: "I think it is important that we understand Swansea Bay should have had the same level of investment as Cardiff Bay.
"If we had had that you would have seen the same progress in Swansea as you have seen in Cardiff.
"We haven't had it and this is where we are.
"I think the Techniums are a great success. I think one of the big disappointments is the fact we haven't been able to attract as many jobs as possible."
Mr Holley said a lack of sufficient infrastructure was at the heart of the problem.
He said: "The infrastructure leading from the M4 is good up until you get to Amazon but it deteriorates rapidly after that.
"I'm delighted that SA1 has got as many jobs as it has but if we had bigger infrastructure investment you would see more people coming to create wealth.
"You don't see the fairness in treatment between Swansea and Cardiff that you have between Glasgow and Edinburgh."
A Welsh Assembly spokesperson said that in terms of scale, the development of Cardiff Bay and SA1 were not comparable.
She said: "The total development area of Cardiff Bay — which attracted £1.1billion of private sector investment — was 1,100 hectares compared with 40.47 hectares at SA1 Swansea Waterfront, which is anticipated to attract £400 million of private sector investment."
rupert.hall@swwmedia.co.uk
Business in the Bay Today — page 17
10 Comments
by Observer, Neath
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 6:56PM
“Phew Dave! I'm surprised you've not moved away from Swansea already. OK, Swansea may not be Camelot but its still a nice place to shop etc. with a reasonable range of shops - some of them 'nationals'. Its not Cardiff or Bristol but then its not got the population of those places either.
Swansea Bay? The Marina? SA1? Singleton Park? Oystermouth Castle? Verdis on the Mumbles? Clyne Gardens? Langland Bay? Caswell Bay? Oxwich Bay? Rhosilli? Are all those a blot on the landscape to you?
We've had a number of visitors from England staying here and they all like the area. Perhaps you need to visit the fiinges of Birmingham or Manchester and then see how Swansea compares.
I try and 'sell' this area (reasonably and honestly) to people who haven't visited. With attitudes like yours for all people to see it will never take off.”
by Steve, Swansea
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 10:03AM
“Labour failed, Lib Dems failed, independents failed. What Swansea needs in a Conservative Council. Just compare all teh Conservative run cities with their Labour and Lib Dem counterparts. The best towns and cities in the UK are mostly Tory run. They know what they are doing and know how to get results. The people of Swansea are so stupid that they complain all the time and then vote for the same people. Thick or what?”
by Dave, Mumbles
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 10:00AM
“It's nothing to do with the roads. Big businesses don't want to re-locate to a chav city. The city centre is a disgrace. Cities like Swansea will never be able to attract a significant amount of business. Just imagine you are a business owner and had to decide between Cardiff and Swansea. I can't think of any reason they'd want to come to Swansea. Swansea is sadly lacking in so many things. It is a dump and that's why businesses don't come.”
by OED, Swansea
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 8:37AM
“Well said Observer Neath--nice to have a logical reasoned opinion instead of the usual amnesia and bigoted, short sighted, rants of the coalition bashers!”
by Observer, Neath
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 10:40PM
“Not defending the Coalition at Swansea but if you've had (allegedly) 60 years of labour neglect its a bit harsh to expect the Swansea Coalition to turn it all around in 2 terms?
I think Labour were planning to sell the Leisure Centre site and - hopefully - get a developer on board to rebuild it. The Coalition did it as their own initiative without selling the land.
I don't recall Labout having any plans for the new Central Library either - but the coalition came up with the idea and did it. I've been there, its superb.
The Guildhall might have gone the way of the old Leisure Centre if left to Labour - run down and dangerous. But the Coalition got the cash and restored it.
Labour talked about the new bus station for years but the Coalition delivered it.
Things are never quite simply black and white; good (and bad) on all sides. Wasn't it Labour who filled in the Marina and then dug it all out again...?”
by John, swansea
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 9:15PM
“There's just one thing I would say to Chris Holley. "It's easy to criticise others, but self criticism is the hardest.”
by Paul Lloyd, Winch Wen
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 9:11PM
“You have to give this Lib-Dem /Independent council some credit for their cheek - blame everyone but themselves. Also credit for their comic value, you'd have to pay a lot if they were on stage. Can anyone come up with a stage name for them? I'll kick it off with Bodgeit & Scarper.”
by A Navvi, Digapit Row.
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 6:24PM
“A bad workman always blames his tool's”
by Paul, Killay
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 1:50PM
“Who closed Graig school?
Who will be closing Cefn Hengoed School Pool?
Who are in charge of the council at the moment?
Chris Holley, The Lib Dems and their Independant supporters.
Swansea may not have been perfect under Labour but this lot have had nearly 2 terms to deliver.
All they appear to have delivered is what was already in planning when Labour were ousted.”
by Mike, Swansea
Tuesday, January 18 2011, 11:36AM
“There is only one person responsible for the poor state of Swansea's roads and a lack on investment. He has been council leader since 2004.”