Downtown Preston hosted an event this week that explored the question ‘what are the ingredients that make a city great’? A panel that was chaired by Michael Taylor from Insider magazine included Liverpool entrepreneur David Wade Smith, and Mike Emerich from Manchester City Council.
Strong leadership, ambition and confidence was, in short, the answer. David and Mike explained the journey that their respective cities had gone through to get to where they are today. Both men acknowledged that their cities were far from finished. And both agreed that to make progress you have to identify weaknesses – and address them.
I have spent a good deal of time expressing my frustration with Preston’s leadership. Downtown has also outlined a number of other areas that have to be improved in terms of attitude and process if we are to get where we want to be. But, what I have always said, and continue to believe, is that Preston has more opportunity and potential than any other city. Our existing assets, including the Docks; superb parks; Winckley Square; the forthcoming Guild; alongside our fabulous location and communications, are just some of the reasons why we should be more ambitious, and more confident, than appears to be the case.
For our part Downtown will continue to bang on about the weaknesses; in the full knowledge that once they are addressed we can begin to build on the huge number of positives Preston has to offer.