Our region is the very definition of disparate. Beautiful, enchanting, stunning but hopelessly incoherent.
For some purposes we are Devon and Cornwall (police), sometimes Devon and Somerset (Fire) sometimes with or without Dorset. This has chopped and changed over the years. Some people think of the south west as the seven counties, including Gloucester and Wiltshire, which means that Land’s End and Stonehenge are in the same region. I simply don’t think such a massive region works.
This is not just academic. It is helpful when dealing with the machinery of government to have a clearer idea what our region is and what are priorities are.
I am proposing that from now on we focus on four counties: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and most of Somerset. I say most of Somerset because it has two unitary authorities to its north (one of them including Bath) which look towards Bristol.
I believe there is a coherence about a four county approach. It would be served by three Local Enterprise Partnerships which are the vehicles through which government plans regional investment. Our LEPs are increasingly collaborating. Devon and Somerset local authorities are applying to government to become a Combined Authority.
All parts of the region have similar challenges regarding transport infrastructure and the need for superfast broadband. All parts have a stunning environment which we must protect not least for our traditional agriculture and tourism. All parts of the region have a number of thriving businesses, whether defence contractors, hi-tech firms or businesses with a maritime focus. There is a synergy to the four counties.
The more we can become a coherent region speaking with a single clear voice, the more attention and investment we are likely to get from government. This is especially the case at a time when government is impeded by a small majority from imposing anything, anywhere.
What is our region called? We are not even sure about that. Are we the West Country or the south west or the far south west? I like the phrase Great South West which is beginning to find some currency. It describes us well – we are obviously in the south west of the country, and we are great in size, potential, opportunity and living standards.
At a business summit this Friday in Exeter I intend to try to press home these thoughts to help our region become more coherent and more successful at attracting government attention and investment