local authority, it’s why there are metro mayors in certain areas of the country. “We are never going to have a metro mayor for an area as wide as this, but bringing people around the same table is a good thing. It will ensure
driver for Gloucestershire’s own development. The Western Gateway was launched by Robert Jenrick, the then minister for housing, communities and local government, with diplomacy saying that it was launched over the bridge inWales. But before arriving at the Celtic Manor Hotel and Resort in Newport, Mr Jenrick checked in at Hub 8 in Cheltenham. Hub 8, a co-working space for the cyber technology sector opened in Cheltenham’s Brewery Quarter earlier this year as a precursor to the huge Cyber Central development. And the critical importance of that project is one of the reasons why the region is being joined together for a greater good, according to Mr Jenrick. He said: "The Western Gateway will draw on the diverse talents of both sides of the Severn to deliver an economic powerhouse that will drive growth throughout the region. "Already a major centre for cyber and tech, research, manufacturing and the creative industries - there's clearly huge potential for them to achieve even greater things together. "This initiative will give South West England and South Wales a powerful voice, just as the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine have done for those areas” l
Sam Holliday
everyone will be singing from the same hymn sheet. “Without this, I fear that our region would have been left behind. By coming together, we will bring about more funding and that will filter down and benefit all businesses in the region.” While the final details of how the Western Gateway will work, the complete area it will cover and which individuals from local authorities will take part have yet to be finalised, a chair has been chosen. Katherine Bennett, a senior UK, vice president of one of the region’s biggest names Airbus UK has been appointed to the role and tasked with the early set- up tasks. She will shape and then lead the governance team and then set and manage the initial priorities for the partnership. One of those is bound to be the Cyber Central development in Cheltenham, which is seen as a key
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December 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com | 5
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