West Sussex coastline can be strong economic region

The view came from a special summit meeting held recently by the West Sussex Economic Partnership, and attended by key coastal stakeholders from business and the public sector.

The area has the potential for strong regeneration and is definitely not 'God's Waiting Room' agreed the diverse range of stakeholders.

They agreed that if joint action can be achieved, the economic outlook, with major blue-chip companies, high-tech enterprises and entrepreneurial growing businnesses involved,will be highly promising.

First on the list should be a new image for the coast, which is both inspiring and clearly reflective of its strengths and its ambition to regenerate.

WSEP chief executive Alistair Smith said: "We will continue to press for a solution to the A27, but even if overnight we were told all the schemes for it could go ahead immediately, it would be at least seven to ten years before they would be completed, with lengthy planning and environmental studies involved. We cannot afford to stand still and wait.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette March 22