Tourism 'will be key factor for county at the election'
SUPPORT for tourism could be a key factor in marginal Derbyshire seats at the general election, it is claimed.
Tourism organisation VisitBritain carried out research highlighting that, in four county constituencies, 15,000 people have jobs related to the tourism industry.
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Grayling
Each of the four seats – South Derbyshire, Mid Derbyshire, Chesterfield and High Peak – is a major target for one of the big political parties.
VisitBritain head of government affairs Bernard Donoghue said: "I was asked once if there are any votes in tourism and pointed out that 83% of the Conservatives' seaside town constituencies went Labour in the 1997 election."
VisitBritain estimates that some 5,000 people in Mid Derbyshire will be employed in the tourism industry, about 12% of the entire workforce.
The constituency will only come into being at the forthcoming general election, due to planned boundary changes, and will be made up of parts of the existing Amber Valley, Erewash and West Derbyshire constituencies.
Pollsters estimate that the Conservatives would have a majority of some 2,900 votes if the seat existed now – but Labour has said the new constituency is a key target.
Meanwhile in South Derbyshire – a Tory target – Labour will defend a majority of about 2,700. VisitBritain estimates there are some 2,900 people, 9% of the workforce, employed in tourism there.
In Chesterfield, another Labour target, the Liberal Democrats will defend a 2,500-vote majority and in High Peak, a Tory target, Labour currently has a 3,200-vote lead.
In these two seats in the north of the county, VisitBritain claims 6,200 people work in the tourism industry, an average of 8.3% of the workforce.
VisitBritain says tourism is worth £115bn to the UK economy, is the country's fifth biggest industry, keeping 2.6 million people in work, employs people at all skills levels and is predominantly an industry of small businesses.
Both the Tory and Labour candidates in South Derbyshire said their parties recognised how important tourism was.
South Derbyshire District Council leader Heather Wheeler will represent the Tories on polling day.
She said: "Clearly at a national level I would be seeking to continue to boost the industry here."
Labour candidate Mike Edwards said: "Our priority is to secure the economic recovery and tourism will play its role in that."
3 Comments
by Mark, Spondon
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 12:18PM
“I agree with you totally Pete.Its all about greedy men making money. Anything that is burned changes its chemical structure from one for to another. Eventually over time the people living around these incinerators would absorb this discharge into there own cells and tissues causing allergies or even more serious life threatening diseases.”
by ramfangazman, Spondon
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 10:02AM
“Pete, in this day and age, i'm almost positive that it would be impossible to build an incinerator that causes cancer because of the over the top attitude towards health and safety.
I may be wrong, there is no evidence to back up my claim and I would be interested in reading more into it if you have a link?? Thanks.”
by peter ambler, spondon
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 9:43AM
“i like most love my fresh air and countryide .but can you see tourists wanting to come to our beautiful countryside .if the planned incinerators go ahead in chesterfield /matlock or anywhere else .they know they are cancerous and will go elsewhere .horrible smoke bellowing out ultrafine nanoparticles . .so councils make your mind up is it clean air or pollutoin .fight on chesterfield against incineration . derby will be bad enough 3 planned within a 2 mile area .bringing deaths cancers and child deaths .who would honestly want a holiday .in an area with incinerators smoking not me weve enough polltion in derby speading outwards .pete spondon”