Wednesday, June 13, 2007


You can tell when Summer has finally arrived.

Ascot has it's Races, Henley has the Regatta, Torbay has... the Chartered Institute of Waste Management Conference.

Every June the Green at Paignton is converted into an international showcase for recycling and waste management technology in what has become a familiar and for local hoteliers quite lucrative few days.

Sadly, rumours are circulating that next years event may be the last to takle place here. Word reached me yesterday from a business contact at the show that the CIWM are planning to relocate the event to somewhere 'more convenient' for delegates to get to; Chester has been mentioned; from 2009 onwards.

If true this would be yet more hard evidence of the damage not having the Kingskerswell bypass is doing to the local economy as the main reason they seem to be giving is the time it takes for delegates to get here.

I hope very much that this rumour is incorrect and I have already contacted the CIWM to seek clarification and await their reply.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be a great pity if we lost this event. The Green/Eco sector is growing. We could leverage this and our beautiful bay as a real destination venue. Any reply Marcus? What's your suggestions to galvanise the bay interest and or support?

Marcus Wood said...

I have been receiving conflicting reports ever since this story came up, Martin.

When I spoke to the organisers they went to great pains to say that 'no decisions have been made' and several exhibitors I have spoken to say they would oppose a move away.

Yet undeniably they are struggling to maintain visitor numbers as the waste sector is changing from being dominated by local authorities to dominated by private contractors.

We will see. I hope that members will throw out the idea, after all no-one has a better location in mind.