I should have known better. Deciding to revisit my hopes for 2008 proved a depressing experience.In this column 12 months ago I listed developments which would be welcome in the new year.
Top was the South West Regional Development Agency moving faster and finishing work on the Morlands site in 2008.Anyone who travels along the A39 between Wells and Street can see how far this wasted opportunity is from completion.
Would redevelopment have taken more than 20 years if the private sector had been in charge? I think not.
I also wished for more affordable homes for young people in Somerset, which would make staying here more attractive for them and reduce the greying of the county, but the problems in the property market are preventing that.
Other unrequited hopes included untalented “stars” no longer believing they deserve a glorious career because of their ritual humiliation on a reality television show, and fewer paparazzi photos in the national media.
Foolishly I also hoped for better quality television programmes at Christmas. Sadly it was worse with a desperate dearth of new material.For 2009 we need to beat the recession in Somerset. We can all help in two main ways: Firstly by supporting local shops, service providers and food producers.Secondly by being positive, avoiding convincing ourselves things are worse than they are and questioning the daft rumours spread by doom-mongers.
Philip Welch
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment