VISION Swansea Bay - Issue 1

VISION
SWANSEA BAY
MAY 2017 VISIONSWANSEABAY.ORG ISSUE 1
FREE
ELECTION
FEVER
WHO WILL
YOU VOTE FOR?
TAKE ACTION
What you can do to
show support and
make it happen
GIRL BOSS
EMPOWERING GIRLS
TO START BUSINESSES
”
It’s easy to be
cynical and critical.
What takes courage
is to have positive
expectations.

Believe
you can
and you’re
halfway
there.
Theodore Roosevelt
An Attractive
City Centre with
More Green Space
The vision for Swansea City Centre
is to create a more attractive
environment, with more green
space, and more reasons for people
to spend time in the city centre.
Swansea should be somewhere
you want to take a walk, let the
kids play, relax over coffee, catch
a movie, take in an exhibition or
have a meal. Somewhere nice to go
just for a ‘day out’. We can’t
depend on retail alone to bring
people into town. It’s right
to have higher aspirations
for what our city centre can
offer, in terms of lifestyle,
leisure, culture, and events.
Swansea Council’s plan is
to create an urban park
along the south-facing
side of the Kingsway, transforming a
tired, busy, unattractive street into
a green lung for the city.
In Castle Square, the Council has
made clear its intention to retain
ownership of the land and
maintain it as a public space –
a greener and more attractive one.
More green spaces will be opened
up around St Mary’s Church as well.
And then of course our greatest
asset, our stunning beachfront that
is within a few minutes walk of the
centre. The demolition of the old
Civic Centre will enable us to create
a destination and make the most of
our world class beach.
Maximising the potential of our world-class beach
In all, the future is bright for the city
centre if we hold fast to the vision.
With the signing of the City Deal,
Swansea Council has released a
3D flythrough that provides an
inspiring vision for our city centre.
The proposals deserve your
wholehearted support. They offer
a real chance to create a more
inspiring place to spend time, a
thriving local economy, and a new
identity for Swansea, as the city
and the region enters a new era
of investment and opportunity.
Against the backdrop of Brexit
and Austerity Britain, Swansea is
choosing to focus on the future -
and we can too.
Sure, the council is not perfect and
we all have our gripes. But the role
of leadership is to put forward a
compelling vision for the future,
and this Labour council has done
that. With collective buy-in and a
sense of shared vision, we have the
opportunity to transform our city
and our own fortunes.
It’s easy to be cynical and critical.
It takes zero effort to point out all
the reasons the plans won’t work,
to bitch and moan about everything
that’s wrong with the place. What
takes courage is to have hope. To
have positive expectations for the
future, and to keep working at them
until they materialise. That’s an
empowering choice, and it’s ours to
make.
”
I love living in Swansea
and I'm excited about the
future of the city.
Dawn, Uplands
So, let’s stop talking down our city
centre. Talk about the future, see
the potential, and focus on the
good things that are happening. As
residents we can help generate the
buzz and the business needed for
the city centre to thrive.
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The biggest change to
our city in 70 years is
happening now
A vibrant cultural and
creative community on
the High Street
A leisure destination that
capitalises on our worldclass
beach front location
More green spaces in the
city centre and and a nicer
environment
A digital city with a Tech
Arena & Digital Districts
More people living and
working in the city centre
Celebrating culture and
the arts with a City of
Culture bid
Investing in the growth
sectors of the 21st century
The City Deal: Creating Opportunities
The central idea of the Swansea Bay City Region City
Deal - a deal which is touted as being worth £1.3bn
to the regional economy – is to focus resources on
key sectors which have been identified as offering the
best potential for growth and opportunity. These are
Energy, Health & Life Science, Next Generation Digital
Services and Smart Manufacturing – things that we can
all recognise are going to be central to the economy of
the future.
One of the highest aspirations we can have is to
provide young people across Swansea Bay with access
to interesting and rewarding careers. They have been
short-changed by the decline of industry and the rise
of call centres, distribution centres and zero hours
contracts. As more jobs are taken over by computers,
the problem will get worse.
We need to invest in and train a generation of young
people for careers in the industries of the future, and
the City Deal will now enable us to do this.
#sharethevision
Watch the 3D Flythrough of Swansea at www.visionswanseabay.org
#sharethevision
Learn about the Swansea Bay City Deal at www.swanseabaycityregion.wales

Teresa May is taking her time
to make a final decision about
the Lagoon that would enable
the project to start. There are
now fears that the snap general
election will set the start date
back yet another year. It’s proving
to be a frustrating journey - but
the outcome is one worth fighting
for. Not only will it help save
the planet, attract thousands
of visitors, and provide another
brilliant leisure amenity for
residents. It could also be the
start of a £15bn new industry.
Part of the vision is to create a
Turbine Manufacturing Facility
in Swansea that would go on to
provide the turbines for future
lagoon projects across Britain and
beyond, whilst making our name as
a hotspot for new types of energy
generation. Let’s hope it comes off.
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It’s a £1.3bn project
It will power 155,000
homes
It will create 2000 jobs
It will cost 30p per
household per year
Whether
you think
you can, or
whether
you think
you can’t -
either way,
you are
right.
Henry Ford
Swansea Bay
Futures is a not-forprofit
organisation
that connects and
promotes business,
education and
development in
Swansea Bay.
Subscribe to their
monthly roundup
of good news from
across the region at
www.abayoflife.com
Talent Bank offers
distinctively
different education &
training to 16-19 year
olds, aligned with the
needs of industry.
It equips young
people with the
skills & experience
necessary for a
rewarding career
in Health & Life
Sciences. Visit
www.talentbank.wales
Swansea University's Bay Campus is still expanding
When we’re thinking about the
future of our region, it’s worth
acknowledging that Swansea
has a major asset in our two
Universities. Swansea University
turns over in excess of £170m, and
makes a £600m impact on the
regional economy every year. It
brings new people into Swansea,
and it showcases the city to the
world. The new Bay Campus on
Fabian Way was the largest capital
investment project in Europe, and
demonstrates the scale of the
University’s ambition.
Swansea University has a vision: to
be among the UK’s leading research
universities (currently ranked 26th),
to extend its global reach, and to
transform the regional economy
through its research and innovation.
The University is a major player in
the plan to deliver on the promises
of the City Deal - namely, economic
success in emerging new industries.
The University’s pioneering research
and in particular its collaborations
with industry, will be key to
generating the investment and the
high quality jobs this region needs.
THIS IS A
CALL TO
ACTION
1Choose to believe in the
vision of what Swansea can
be, choose to be hopeful and
optimistic. It’s too easy to
be cynical, this takes zero effort.
But you can choose to focus on the
positives rather than the negatives,
the future rather than the past, the
possibility rather than the risk. It’s
a powerful choice that is yours to
make.
2Speak positively and
knowledgeably about the
proposals, help to create a
positive buzz and a sense
of confidence in the vision. Inspire
others to see what a time of
opportunity this is for our region.
Start by sharing this issue of Vision,
and joining our positive Facebook
community.
3Look for the opportunity
with your name on it. Ask
yourself, how can I play
my part? Whether it’s the
opportunity to make a difference
in your community, to train for a
different job, to grow a business or
start a business, to pitch a new idea,
to invest in something. Think about
your own hopes and aspirations, and
look for ways to make them happen.
4
Help design the right
solutions. If you think
you know what’s needed
to transform your
community or improve your life,
look for opportunities to have your
say. Attend public consultation
meetings, complete questionnaires
and write to the decision-makers.
Make your voice heard. You’ve
got good ideas and a unique
perspective: put it out there.
5Give the council time to
deliver on their ideas. The
leader of Swansea Council is
Labour’s Rob Stewart, and he
has put forward a strategic vision.
He is up for re-election on the 4th
May 2017, and by voting Labour we
can ensure he is re-elected with a
strong mandate to deliver results.
6
Support new initiatives with
your custom. Events in the
city need people to support
them, just as new and
existing businesses need customers
to keep coming in. Vote with your
feet, your time and your money, by
becoming a customer, a visitor, an
audience member and a cheerleader
for local businesses, events and
organisations.
7
Explore the region, not
just Swansea, and discover
what Carmarthenshire,
Pembrokeshire and Neath
Port Talbot have to offer. People
from all over the UK and around
the world come here on holiday,
but we’ve got it all on our doorstep.
Improve your own well-being and
strengthen regional links at the
same time, by getting out and about
in Swansea Bay.
8
Talk to your kids about their
futures. Raise a generation
with high aspirations, who
believe they can achieve
things and make a difference. Let
them think big about their options.
We get what we expect in life, so
let your kids expect the best for
themselves.
#sharethevision Join our positive community on Facebook www.visionswanseabay.org/facebook
#sharethevision Join our positive community on Facebook www.visionswanseabay.org/facebook

ELECTION FEVER
WHO WILL YOU VOTE FOR?
Local and National Elections
are coming up in May and June.
"The first general election in a generation
in which we have a real choice."
4th
May
LOCAL ELECTION
#SHARETHEVISION
8th
June
GENERAL ELECTION
IN THE RED CORNER...
What’s their voting record
on key issues?
CORBYN
MAY
Taxing Bankers Bonuses For Against
Bedroom Tax Against For
Climate Change Measures For Against
Gay Marriage For For
Gay Rights For Mixed
Human Rights Bill For Against
Hunting Ban For Against
Increasing Top Rate of Tax For Against
Iraq War Against For
Lower Voting Age For Against
Mansion Tax For Against
Privatisation of Royal Mail Against For
Raising Tuition Fees Against For
Raising Welfare For Against
Reducing Corporation Tax Against For
Reducing Welfare Against For
Re-Nationalising the Railways For Against
Restricting Legal Aid Against For
Trident Against For
VAT Increase Against For
SWANSEA COUNCIL IS
BUILDING THE FIRST
NEW COUNCIL HOMES
IN A GENERATION
Work is under way on a new
energy efficient council housing
development in Penlan, with
another set for Birchgrove.
These are the first new council
homes in Swansea for a
generation. Swansea Council
wants to rapidly expand its
housebuilding programme.
Cllr Rob Stewart said: “We are
working on a new housing delivery
model that will see the council
become a major house builder in
Swansea, providing energy efficient
affordable homes for Swansea
people which will be funded directly
with income from council house
rents - not from council tax.”
The plan is for the Council’s
corporate building and property
services team to carry out the
building work themselves, which
will boost people’s skills and lead
to more apprenticeship and work
experience opportunities for
Swansea residents in future.
Labour councillor Rob Stewart is
currently leader of the council
IN SWANSEA...
When it comes to the local
elections, we can put national
politics to one side, thankfully. Here
in Swansea, a change in leadership
at this point in time could jeopardise
the vision that has been put forward
for a revitalised city centre and a
thriving regional economy.
Having worked hard with the
leaders of the other three councils
in Swansea Bay to secure the City
Deal, Labour councillor Rob Stewart
needs to be re-elected on 4th May,
if he is to deliver the plan.
"It’s time to get
excited about the
vision for Swansea City
Centre. But a change
in the leadership of
the council at this
point could change
everything. Let’s give
our current Labour
council a mandate
to deliver on their
promises by voting
Labour on 4th May."
With no friends in the mainstream media, Jeremy
Corbyn polarises opinion. Even some on his own side
fear he can’t win an election, despite the fact that as
an MP he’s won his seat at every vote since 1983, and
in the last two years he’s won two bitter leadership
contests. He has inspired a new generation to take an
interest in politics, and wants to put power into the
hands of people, not the financial elite. He is driven by
firmly held principles and wants opportunity for all. So,
seriously, what’s wrong with Jeremy Corbyn?
When you consider his policies, how many of these do
you actually disagree with?
Ban companies based in tax havens bidding
for government contracts, and clamp down on
corporate tax dodging
£10 minimum wage for all workers over the age of
18, and a ban on exploitative zero hours contracts
Free school meals, based on proof that free school
meals lead to significantly improved grades
Scrap student tuition fees - education should be
seen as an economic investment not an expense
Invest in a programme of housebuilding, and
ensure that half of these are social housing
Re-Nationalise and protect the NHS, investing in
mental health and social care services
End the public sector pay freeze - austerity is a con
that punishes low paid workers
Combat inequality with progressive policies to
reduce the gap between the highest & lowest paid
A National Investment Bank to invest in services,
infrastructure, businesses, low carbon energy and
regional development projects
P.S. Don't misunderstand Corbyn's stance on Brexit. Even if you voted
to remain, it's true that outside the EU we will have greater power to
transform the UK into a progressive, more equal society where people's
rights are protected, while negotiating ongoing European relationships
based on what's best for the majority, not the elite.
Think Jeremy Corbyn is a loser?
Oh dear, you've been brainwashed.
“If you think Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable, or
that his policies won’t work in the real world, it
could be too late for you – you’ve already been
brainwashed by a handful of foreign billionaires
who control 80% of our media.
They’ve already told you what to think on a
multitude of issues. You think you made up your
own mind, and you think you’re right. But, you
didn’t, and you aren’t. Whichever way you vote,
just remember to ask yourself the question;
Have I really made up my own mind?”
Robert Owen, www.thelondoneconomic.com

THINK
POSITIVE,
& POSITIVE
THINGS
ARE
POSSIBLE
GIRL BOSS
EMPOWERING GIRLS
TO START BUSINESSES
Who me? No, I could
never run my own
business!
If you think you’re the only one who
struggles with self-doubt and selfconsciousness,
and that this means
you could never make a success of
your ideas, you are 100% wrong.
Women at all levels are plagued by
their inner critic and the voices that
say, you can’t do this, you’re an idiot,
you’ll look stupid. The difference
between those that go after success
in life, and those who settle for
less than their potential, is not the
absence of fear, it’s the decision to
feel the fear and do it anyway.
Do What You Love
Is there something you’re really
good at, and which you love, but
which you don’t think you could do
as a real job? Perhaps you’d love to
organise events or help people get
healthy? Maybe you want to make
a living from your creative work?
Are you good with computers?
Do you dream of working with
kids or animals? What about your
community – can you see a need
that isn’t being met, a way to make
a difference, an opportunity to help
people? You can create a business
out of what you love - there are
enough examples out there to
demonstrate that you can make a
living out of virtually anything, if
you’re smart about it and prepared to
work for it.
A World of Opportunity
The internet makes it possible to
reach an ever wider audience, so
that here in South West Wales we
are not limited by our location.
There really are no barriers to what
you can achieve, other than your
own limiting beliefs. The truth,
although it’s sometimes hard to
believe around here, is that there's
an abundance of wealth out there,
and plenty of people with money
to spend. Believing this is the first
step. Figuring out how to reach
them – that comes later.
Time is Precious
Money isn’t the scarce resource –
it’s Time that is truly precious. We
spend our time every day, year in
and year out, and yet we can never
earn it back. Your time is precious,
so you owe it to yourself not to put
your dreams on hold, waiting for the
perfect time: that time is now.
The Aspiration
Foundation provides
mentoring and small
grants to help girls
and young women in
Swansea aspire to more
and take control of their
lives. Find out more at
aspirationfoundation.uk
VISION is independently
published by local
residents sharing a
positive vision for the
future of Swansea. If
you'd like to know more,
suggest a story or support
the magazine, please go
online to:
visionswanseabay.org
VISION is independently published by an association of local residents. www.visionswanseabay.org Please write to feedback@visionswanseabay.org