SW Economy.
I’ve spent a fair chunk of my life in the SW and I love the area. It has a lot going for it, especially if you are self contained, don’t need to go outside the SW and have a secure income, not directly dependent on the local SW economy.
The politicians and the EU have ******** the fishing and farming, the mining’s pretty-much finished, and the weather places a fickle limitation on the tourist industry. The whole economy of the SW is very fragile indeed. If it wasn’t for all the retired people that move there, it’d be a lot worse.
The Cornish coast is wonderful, but inland, some of it is rather rough and run-down, whereas Devonshire is the reverse, as it’s coast is not as spectacular as Cornwall’s, but the countryside is prettier and a little more prosperous. All the wet summers over recent years have hammered the tourist industry. Added to this, with the cost of fuel, many folks blanch at travelling so far.
I’m sure the move to Newquay was well considered, and I really don’t have any real opinion either way, but I can tell you this, – the SW has very much a low-wage economy. Perhaps they will benefit from this however.
Most visitors congregate at the fringes – around the coasts, and will often just drive right past some of it’s best assets to get to the beaches. The main advantage is that when on their hols, folks are in a better frame of mind to spend what little they have put to one side.
I certainly agree that the local Councils and the Tourist Boards try very hard to exaggerate all the positives, but they are very parochial in their operation. Most councils simply see airfields as ‘brown field building sites’……..
The only meaningful civil a/c operation in the SW is Exeter, where there are, or were, even some classic jets in operation too. Plymouth has the sword of Damocles hanging over it as I recall. I doubt if it has any long-term future.
I think the success of moving this a/c collection to such a remote area, hinges on good, well-targeted PR and advertising. It’ll really be a unique niche business in the SW. The Lost Gardens of Heligan seem to be well-promoted and are very strong. The newly-moved aircraft collection can position itself similarly. I’d add that, if they can provide a good attraction that also works when the weather is wet, – which it often is in the SW, – then they will enhance their chances of success hugely.
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