Differences between

Italy and the UK

THE ECONOMY OF TORBAY

Most of the population work in tourism (distribution, hotels, and restaurants)

-About 13705 people - another good part works in me public sector (public admin, education and health) - about 13065 people; only a very little part works in the agriculture and fishing sector, the most important one, in fact only 55 people work in it out of a population of 42049. In manufacturing there is a good part of Torbay’s workforce, too, in fact 5634 people work in it. Nevertheless Torbay’s unemployment in consistently significantly higher than Devon, regional and national average, but in the last 3 years it has reduced of 2, 6% and it seems to improve more and more. An additional problem is the shortage of full-time employment influenced by the large service and care sectors in the economy.

The domestic product is another indicator of Torbay’s economy position. In 1998 Torbay had a GDP of £8655 per head, only Cornwall had a marginally lower one in the South West.

In 1992 the local council carried out the problems of Torbay’s area and it found out:

- Difficulties with transport and deliveries, caused by construction sites, poor service roads and the need to improve access into Torbay from outside.

- High land costs

- Problems with neighbouring uses

- Shortage of parking spaces for their own employees and visitors.

- Insufficient land for expansion, although about 25% were contemplating extending their premises in the next 3 years; and although the majority of local business considered training facilities to be adequate, several companies expressed a desire for more specialist training courses in Torbay.

Moreover now 75% of Torbay’s young people, aged between 16 and 24, prefer to leave this area to find better job opportunities that allow them a better life, in contrast with only 25% who say they haven’t problems in finding a job in Torbay’s area.

The 1992 council has made a local plan that:

- Provides a framework for the development of sufficient land for industry and commerce, in relation to other aspects which have a bearing on the local economy, such as transport, retailing, town centre development, housing and the quality of the environment;

- Establishes a strong measure of certainty and stability to enable entrepreneurs and developers to make decisions with confidence;

- Sets out proposals and management measures to the environment to attract new investments to Torbay;

- Reflects Government Guidance that planning should be a positive tool to promote sustainable development.

In addition, the European Community initiative “Pesca”, a specific initiative to support the fisheries sector, has supported a wide range of fishing industry and new employment projects in Torbay, included aquaculture, training for fishermen, heritage boat projects and sea festivals.

Another objective of the European Regional Development Fund covers a range of issues to combat unemployment and regenerate areas of industrial and rural decline. A number of driver groups address specific issues affecting sectors in transition, including tourism, agriculture, fisheries and community regeneration.