The Morlands – how it could be such a Great Green Enterprise for Glastonbury (PART 1)

I have been following the debate over the Glastonbury Morlands since 2001, when all previous plans for the derelict site had failed and the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) arrived to save the day. SWRDA agreed to invest their millions and bring new prosperity to Glastonbury, creating jobs to replace those lost in what some said had been a decline in the town’s fortunes, ever since the old sheepskin (tannery) industry went and the whole business no longer employed the numbers it once did.Since then the problems of the Morlands have never been far from the news headlines locally and continue to exacerbate even the mildest mannered citizens who say it’s a disgrace that almost £20 million has been spent in eight years without a single new brick laid.In fact a few new bricks and some old rocks have been laid, but around culverts and to build bridge heads, plus a fair few tonnes of tarmac laid to make roads around the site, where previously there had been over 20 years of abandoned buildings – overgrown by buddleia and brambles. The Morlands factory closed in 1982, but the site was in fact two separate companies with the Bailey factory operating out of the buildings in the north area, where the tall chimney is seen. When you look at the site today, you see how little space is left now that 31 acres of land are carved up with ‘B’ size roads and a ‘landscaped’ roundabout. A mosaic of rubble strewn plots is left, colonised by a colourful variety of first year wasteland flora. These areas are intended for redevelopment into what SWRDA originally said (2002) would become a unique sustainable enterprise park, but plans released in 2007 looked like it would become any ordinary city industrial estate – probably attracting affluent users who could afford the developers prices.The Morlands / SWRDA debacle, and the political fall-out over what has or has not been successful, has gone on far too long and has done Glastonbury no favours. None of the politicians have had any discernable impact on the way SWRDA has conducted its business here. I think it would have been different if we had strong local leadership and strict requirements for SWRDA to report frequently, setting targets for progress. The Agency’s communications with the local public have been lamentable. I know – having been drawn in by the statements its staff made, and going to public viewings of their plans which encouraged me to ask what would they be doing to demonstrate their system for renewable energy. I was keen to be involved and saw the potential for something new and environmental. They were encouraging and told me a plan to develop a public centre for demonstrating renewable energy technologies could fit into their scheme, but it would need support and self financing. My task would be to organise support and build a project. However, over the past four to five years of communications with SWRDA this has proved utterly frustrating, resulting in my team of local people and experts, plus all the public support that was raised, being completely disregarded in the end. Such unprofessional conduct and inattention to community opinion should not have been allowed to continue; certainly not left to this extent were no one has any faith in the SWRDA. The fact the SWRDA is only accountable to Government ministers is, of course, the reason why no one seems to be able to touch them. Numerous examples show how local people count for least, with local politicians faring little better.All of this just might seem more palatable if Glastonbury was actually going to benefit from the type of business premises to be built on the site, or from the influx of new companies from outside that we were told would relocate to them, or if real encouragement and investment for local enterprise was coming with the package. Nowhere have I read the case for how the SWRDA’s favoured technology companies are going to bring prosperity to Glastonbury, but if anyone can shed light on this please write in. I believe we should expect and deserve the sort of redevelopment that is at the leading edge of green building technology. My recollection is that this was in fact promised, under option 3 “green industries” in 2002. The other two options, “tourism” and “workplace employment” both had sustainable principles in their plans. That was probably what encouraged the imagination that Glastonbury would be moving into a new era of award-winning architecture with eco-friendly green technology at its heart. What better statement and message to give to the South West by a Government funded development agency than to have an enterprise redevelopment that set the benchmark for all future commercial building projects. However, the final choice went to option 2 “employment” as the focus, after all the consultations had shown local people were in favour of eco options, recycling, tourism and community uses.Aside from the uses that buildings might be put to, I can’t think why every roofed structure, wall and engineered surface should not be individually assessed and designed to include the latest energy efficiency controls, intelligent use of solar radiant heat, natural air conditioning by design, solar photovoltaic capture for electricity generation and ground source heat extraction, plus other energy recycling/generation methods. And it shouldn’t stop there. Enhancing the visual environment is so important to our lives and the way we work. Humans are part of nature and we need to be connected with the living environment all around us or we fail to see our place in the whole scheme.The whole Morlands site needed eco design and infrastructure, maximising self sufficiency from the start. What we have seen so far is standard – grid energy – electric connections installed. What should have been a technology park for the future is looking more and more outdated as time goes by – and that’s also because the basic designs drawn up in 2007 are no longer going to meet current trends and the need to drastically reduce our carbon emissions. This is also no longer about the fact it will not attract any company wishing to increase its green credentials – through a move to modern eco-tech headquarters – but now enough evidence exists that all new developments must be ‘future-proofed’ to a standard that will achieve the Government’s C02 targets of 80% reduction in green house gasses by 2050, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008.Looking to the town’s future, the original intent by the SWRDA was to include provisions for the younger workforce. But who has seen plans for investment in young people – their hopes and ambitions? Where will dedicated low cost, serviced enterprise accommodation, providing start-up support, mentoring and physical resources be located? With all the money SWRDA has (or had) to invest in community development and regeneration they are surely the ideal organisation capable of funding such vital work. In place of such detail we have been given the allure of “hundreds of jobs” to be created. I certainly feel that local politicians have been too quick to jump on the simplistic job creation headlines, which SWRDA have heralded as their mission here. Of course ‘jobs’ are wanted, but the idea that SWRDA could create 400 or more new jobs was far too intoxicating for some who saw this as the answer to reducing Glastonbury’s higher than average local unemployment rate. It reminds me of the authorities who built high rise blocks because they provided cheap and plentiful “homes” for people. That policy, with hindsight, was wrong. It led to social and economic deprivation, and planners eventually conceded quality environments, not dense tower blocks, were the answer. In the same way I don’t think the “any jobs” will do approach is the answer. Just because they simply reduce numbers of unemployed is not good enough and will not answer the long term need for creating a sustainable economic situation. If you only dig a little deeper the picture emerges of the type of jobs Glastonbury people might see advertised at the newly redeveloped SWRDA ‘high tech’ Morlands Enterprise Park. Temporary construction workers or labourers are promised – to be recruited locally. Industrial and office units will require cleaning, catering and security workers. Some office clerical or warehousing might come. Plus, you might include the Tesco jobs that could appear as a consequence of Avalon Plastics moving to the Morlands and selling up their old factory site just north of the Morlands.The ‘high tech’ end of the jobs market – to quote SWRDA in the form of “ICT, aerospace” (which could include military defence applications) and “environmental technology” (somewhat misleading and not necessarily the eco-friendly type either) – would more than likely come with the immigrant companies (their managers would be encouraged to relocate to the new Houndwood housing estate in Street... had timescales not fallen out of sync). We are not big on aerospace in Glastonbury, so – unless I am much mistaken – there’s not much likelihood of finding many suitable candidates around here to fill those types of posts. I would also like to understand (?) how aerospace businesses will boost the Glastonbury economy, as one councillor described. What advantage do they think we will gain? Perhaps this will come as the ‘high tech’ employees start spending their money in Glastonbury, in the supermarkets maybe? Investing in better tourism services would be the best bet since government defence cuts could sever the defence technology lifeline, and as one local food campaigner said – “what have supermarkets ever done for us?” For anyone not familiar with the trade that Glastonbury does do well in, I need only mention the three best historic attractions - Glastonbury Abbey, the Tor and Chalice Well Gardens. These are popular visitor attractions, as is the area’s spiritual and esoteric history, its contemporary “alternative” influence – with retail and service trades – and not forgetting the seasonal influence of local outdoor festivals, camps and conferences. Trade in ‘catering’ to tourists’ needs, retail, self-employment and holiday / guest house accommodation is what is keeping the town alive. You might also include in this – events such as the carnivals and Glastonbury extravaganza, though others will say they make little difference economically to the town, other than possible B&B incomes. Glastonbury is therefore an important tourist attraction and a magnet or settlement for artists, musicians, writers, therapists, performers, who mainly derive their income from the visitors. As well as this we have the ordinary social and ‘home-servicing’ trades and professions you would find anywhere. So, ask yourself the question – what would grow the economy and provide more stability for our rural market or tourist town? Now consider the longer term and what the future may hold. What is it we need to do that will increase or keep us vibrant in tourism, or what might even decrease our attractiveness, or tarnish our peace loving image, if we are not careful? Have you arrived at something you think we would be good at doing? More of the same perhaps or fresh built attractions? Maybe you think better and newer services for tourists will work or some unusual visitor attractions? What about something to attract festival fans to stay longer, and spend more of their cash locally even? Creative thinkers will come up with propositions that keep the festival enterprise and spin-offs alive all year round.A report in the Central Somerset Gazette (21.5.09) said “Events, carnivals and festivals are a vital part of the local economy and provide a major art attraction for the people living in the county.” It also said these kinds of events attracted over 2 million visitors to the area in 2008. With uncertain climatic conditions arriving, instability in world economics and possible energy supply shortages, there is increasing realisation that communities everywhere will need to be more self-reliant for their basic needs. Any home grown skills, abilities, attractions or resources will become more important. A technology or enterprise park that can be virtually self sufficient in energy and offer something for the area’s visitors will fare better in such a future. This is not conjecture, its fact.In my next blog I would like to explore what has captured the imagination and set pulses racing for the people in Stroud and how similar enterprises could make a difference for Glastonbury, plus what the Morlands should contain and provide for the community if we could start afresh with a dedicated community zone on site.