Un-investable

According to the local newspaper, Swansea traders have branded the city centre ‘un-investable’. They cite rising rates, traffic chaos and issues with drugs & alcohol as the reasons.

So far the response from Lib Dem-run Swansea Council has been a few shrugs and not much else (Council leader Chris Holley will probably get around to blaming someone else in the next few days or so).  

Meanwhile, market trader Chris James said businesses were losing out because traffic routes were leading motorists around the city and effectively bypassing the centre. Tony Collins, who operates a formal hire shop in College Street, stated "Swansea is now un- investable. Cardiff has got a waiting list for retailers, Swansea has an empty shop list."

The article states that local authority officers have pledged to attend future meetings called to devise at action plans. Business groups are entitled to ask however why their council’s political leaders, who turn up with regularity to enjoy freebies at Liberty Stadium, can’t manage to attend crucial talks aimed at safeguarding the city centre’s future.