Warrington punches above its weight in fight to get UK economy back on track

WARRINGTON is punching well above its weight in the fight to get Britain’s economy back on track and the town can look forward with confidence to the next few years.
This emerges from the seventh annual report of the influential Centre for Cities which is published today and compares the performance of 64 cities and major towns across the country.
It shows Warrington in the top 10 for private sector jobs growth over the period 2010 to 2012 with an increase of 4.5 per cent and for business start-ups with 44.9 per 10,000 population.
Warrington has the third highest employment rate in the country at 77.5 per cent over the period July 2012 to June 2013.
The town has the sixth highest proportion of private sector employment and the 10th highest average earnings with an average wage of £507 a week.
Only on CO2 emissions does Warrington fare badly, coming 61 out of the 64 with emissions per capita of 7.7 compared to the UK average of 6.9.
The report stresses that the performances of cities is crucial to the performance of the UK economy.
They account for nine per cent of land, but 54 per cent of population, 59 per cent of jobs and 61 per cent of output. But as well as being important from a point of scale, they are also important from a point of efficiency. Cities in the UK produce 15 per cent more output for every worker than non-city areas.
The report states: “Cities matter to society because they are where so many people live; with austerity continuing well into the next Parliament, taking advantage of the scale and scope cities offer to change the way public services are delivered and engage with some of the hardest to help as well as the most economically advantaged will be vital to balancing the books.”
Centre for Cities says although there is much more to do, the UK finally seems to be undergoing a sustained recovery from the deepest peacetime downturn in the last 100 years.
The economy is now five per cent larger than it was in the third quarter of 2009, its lowest point during the downturn, and at lastforecasts are being revised upwards after many years of them being revised downwards.
Chief executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce Colin Daniels (pictured) said: “I welcome this report which is a good reflection of where Warrington is and where it is going.
“Our employment figures have always been better than the regional and national average and this continues to be the case.
“It reflects real partnerships locally between the private sector and local authority.
“While I understand the Government’s regional city policy it does very little for Warrington – and yet Warrington is contributing so much to the region.
“Neighbouring towns are looking to Warrington for employment and with the Omega development now going ahead our neighbours will be looking closely at that for more employment.
“The approval of the University Technical College will kick-start development in the Stadium Quarter which will create more jobs.
“It is great news and gives us every reason to be confident about the future.”
Leader of Warrington Borough Council Cllr Terry O’Neill added, “Today’s report is very, very good news. Warrington continues to lead and set the pace for the North West region and indeed the rest of the UK.
“We have set in place a robust framework in order to protect, maintain and further grow the borough economy: Warrington Means Business. Last year alone we announced regeneration projects totalling over £450 million in value, of which over £210 million is committed and underway.
“Last week’s go-ahead for a £10 million University Technical College, to be built by the University of Chester, will strengthen, build and maintain our nuclear and engineering skills for the future and kick-start the £190 million Stadium Quarter project.”