August is traditionally holiday time and as we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, it’s not surprising that lots of people choose the area around Chichester as their destination. Across the district, we have a unique mix of stunning scenery, with an unparalleled level of cultural heritage. The tourism industry is important to our area, a survey undertaken in 2015/16 revealed that in the Chichester District there were over 450 tourism-based businesses, providing an income in excess of £410 million that supports over 8,000 jobs.
We certainly have a lot to offer. To the south, our coastline has many distinctive locations offering a diverse range of attractions; from the traditional beach holiday at The Witterings, with its miles of golden sands, the lively coastal town of Selsey or the peaceful RSPB Nature Reserve at Pagham Harbour that offers a winter refuge for 50,000 birds coming to the region every year. Just a few weeks ago, I enjoyed a day on the water with my team where we escaped Westminster to join the Chichester Harbour Master on a tour of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Conservancy team do a fantastic job in balancing our enjoyment of the coast with its 14 sailing clubs and thousands of boats whilst preserving the natural environment for marine life and wildlife.
Moving further north, we are home to the stunning South Downs National Park. There’s a lot to do beyond taking in the views along the South Downs Way, with historic sites like Cowdray Castle and its famous polo grounds, West Dean and its art and design courses and, of course, Goodwood where we can enjoy car and horse racing as well as a trip back in time at the Revival festival. Last month I went to the Weald and Down Museum where they have 50 historic buildings that tell an architectural history of nearly a thousand years. On my visit I got a chance to try my hand at weaving a basket, something I never thought I would need again, but put my newly learnt skills in action on my recent trip to Tanzania.
At the heart of our area is the City of Chichester, the jewel in our crown. We owe much of the quality of our heritage to the fact that Chichester is one of the four original conservation areas launched in 1969. Chichester draws people to visit many attractions such as the Cathedral, Novium Museum and the Festival Theatre. Many also come to shop and enjoy the high-street with a wide range of unique independent shops which we welcome as our high streets face challenges with continued competition from online retail. Chichester is the 4th most resilient high street in the country, which is in part down to the efforts of the Chichester District Council, and Chichester BID who both work to ensure Chichester’s businesses are supported to grow, and it is a testament to their efforts that 47% of the businesses in Chichester City are independents. Furthermore, Visit Chichester are working with tourism experts to prepare a robust and comprehensive 'Business Plan' for enhancing the visitor economy over the next three to five years across the whole constituency.
Despite being a small city of only 29,000 people, our cultural influence is international. One of Chichester’s many triumphs was its ability to inspire Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. This renown composer is famous the world over, his work spanning many genres including Broadway; most famously West Side Story. The city is celebrating his life’s work joining London, New York and Tokyo in celebration. For more information on the events going on throughout the city visit:bernsteinchichester.uk
With so much to do we don’t need to travel far to make the most of the summer...happy holidays!