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Damien Wilson joined Gosport Borough Council at the beginning of the year as the new
Director of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts. He comes to Gosport with
21 years' experience promoting economic development and regeneration for local
authorities around the country. So how can Gosport's economic fortunes be turned
around? GOSPORT NEWS went to meet him.
“We can create a
borough to be proud of”
It is barely a month since Damien Wilson took up his post. He has moved here from Scotland where he
was responsible for a major and highly successful regeneration
programme in Dumfries and Galloway. Today he occupies a 4th floor
office overlooking Gosport's High Street – directly opposite is one of
the many shops that has recently closed. It's a daily reminder of the
challenge he now faces. But Sunderland-born Wilson, 45, is far from
daunted.
“When I applied for this job, a number of people I worked with who
were originally from the Portsmouth area said that Gosport wasn't
a place I should go to. But when I came here for my interview it
wasn't like what people had said. Gosport has a lot of potential, great
natural assets like the beach and seafront. And I was enticed by the
opportunities and challenges.”
Arriving in the midst of a major global economic downturn may make
it even more of a challenge than he had bargained for, but Wilson
reckons Gosport has the conditions to survive – and thrive.
Creating the right conditions for investors
“We are in the midst of the worst economic conditions for four
decades. Banks aren't giving credit, developers aren't developing,
so there is a lot of work to be done to encourage job creation,
business investment, and the regeneration of the town centre.
“This is going to be something that will take time, there has to be a degree of patience. But the key to it is
having the right conditions that will encourage investors.”
That's where the role of the Economic Development Director – a new post created by Gosport
Councillors, dubbed the “Minister for Fun” by some – comes in. For Wilson, though, creating the
Incentives to make Gosport an attractive investment proposition is no laughing matter.
“We all know that the roads in and out of Gosport are congested at peak times during the day, and we
need to look at steps to improve transport. The pontoon, however, is a major gateway into the town
centre and the wider borough. How can it be used to help attract shoppers and visitors to cross over from
Portsmouth to visit Gosport too?
Leisure and tourism important to Gosport’s future
“Leisure and tourism is one area which could be very important to Gosport's future. I think the proposed
new Holbrook leisure Centre is a really exciting project. It is a quality facility that could attract people in
from further afield.
“Gosport has a fantastic waterfront asset. There must be opportunities for developing marine-based
activities and industries.
“Once there's a sense of confidence in Gosport, that can act as a lever for private sector investment. In
other words, they too can be enthused. And that's really one of my key roles – helping to set the right
conditions, getting the investment environment right, and having the right planning tools that are receptive
to the needs of developers and other investors. If the public sector has the confidence to deliver, then that
raises the confidence of the private sector to invest.”
Gosport needs a new ‘brand’
Key to his thinking is using Gosport's historic and natural assets to develop a compelling 'brand' for the
area.
“There is enormous potential for tourism along the whole waterfront that has yet to be fulfilled. We have
key sectors in marine technology and advanced manufacturing here. It's a real niche. We have
employment sites with major potential, for example at Daedalus and Priddy's Hard. Businesses and
Investors need to know these strategic sites are available. As these sites are brought forward for
development we need to ensure that Gosport's skills base is such that there are opportunities for
creating new, higher-paid jobs for local people.
“This is about Gosport's image as much as anything. If you ask someone 'what is Gosport'?, a lot of
people from outside the borough won't have heard of it, and those who have probably know it through it's
association with naval activity. That is important, of course, but what else is there? What about the
natural beauty of the area? How do we get the message across to people that it is worth coming to
Gosport to see places such as Lee, Stokes Bay and the Alver valley?”
Linking Gosport to Portsmouth
One way to promote Gosport is to link it more explicitly to neighbouring Portsmouth, he says.
“We shouldn't be shy of linking Portsmouth to Gosport. If people are coming to Portsmouth to visit,
there's no reason why they shouldn't come over to Gosport as well. We've got naval museums, they've
got naval museums, so let's market them together. Why not combine a visit to the Naval Dockyards with
a trip to the Explosion and the Submarine Museum?
“Portsmouth is a window on Gosport. How can we entice people over from the Quays? They need to
like what they see. Let's think about public art, although I'm certainly not talking about building another
Spinaker! Let's look at other examples of success, such as Gateshead and how it has come to be
inextricably associated with Newcastle.
“We need to get people to stay here longer. There is a lack of quantity and quality of accommodation.
There is room for more and better hotel bed spaces.
“We can bring a certain customer profile to Gosport. Bringing people with higher incomes will
encourage investors, it will create demand for more and better services which in turn means more
and better paid jobs. Everyone can and should benefit.”
Bringing investors to the High Street
Wilson will soon be meeting with members of Gosport's Tourism Forum and also his counterparts in
Portsmouth to discuss ways to build the borough's profile and develop greater links with the city.
Partnerships are a recurrent theme, both locally and regionally as a way of magnifying the effectiveness
of what the council – and it's more modest resources - can deliver.
“If you look at the High Street, we need to see what we can do with the County Council, the South East
England Development Agency and other agencies to look at improving its utility.
“It is very important for the local private sector to sign up to a common vision of how we can take
Gosport forward, because ultimately they are our ambassadors. They need to advocate on our behalf.
So we need to support them and encourage them.
“Gosport's private sector needs to be supported through the current economic climate in order to
sustain existing businesses. We want them to come through and then to be able to make the most of
the new opportunities.”
Gosport is a very friendly place
What Wilson brings is more than enthusiasm: he is also seeing Gosport through a fresh pair of eyes.
It's also clear that he has quickly taken to our area – and is planning on staying.
“Gosport feels almost more like a northern town than a Hampshire town. People talk to you on the bus,
it's a very friendly place. It's an area with so much to offer, it is nothing like what some people say. I'm
a keen cyclist, and there is so much to explore. I like it here!
“And if we can just get the waterfront and the High Street right we can create a gateway and a town
to be proud of”.
Director of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts. He comes to Gosport with
21 years' experience promoting economic development and regeneration for local
authorities around the country. So how can Gosport's economic fortunes be turned
around? GOSPORT NEWS went to meet him.
“We can create a
borough to be proud of”
It is barely a month since Damien Wilson took up his post. He has moved here from Scotland where he
was responsible for a major and highly successful regeneration
programme in Dumfries and Galloway. Today he occupies a 4th floor
office overlooking Gosport's High Street – directly opposite is one of
the many shops that has recently closed. It's a daily reminder of the
challenge he now faces. But Sunderland-
“When I applied for this job, a number of people I worked with who
were originally from the Portsmouth area said that Gosport wasn't
a place I should go to. But when I came here for my interview it
wasn't like what people had said. Gosport has a lot of potential, great
natural assets like the beach and seafront. And I was enticed by the
opportunities and challenges.”
Arriving in the midst of a major global economic downturn may make
it even more of a challenge than he had bargained for, but Wilson
reckons Gosport has the conditions to survive – and thrive.
Creating the right conditions for investors
“We are in the midst of the worst economic conditions for four
decades. Banks aren't giving credit, developers aren't developing,
so there is a lot of work to be done to encourage job creation,
business investment, and the regeneration of the town centre.
“This is going to be something that will take time, there has to be a degree of patience. But the key to it is
having the right conditions that will encourage investors.”
That's where the role of the Economic Development Director – a new post created by Gosport
Councillors, dubbed the “Minister for Fun” by some – comes in. For Wilson, though, creating the
Incentives to make Gosport an attractive investment proposition is no laughing matter.
“We all know that the roads in and out of Gosport are congested at peak times during the day, and we
need to look at steps to improve transport. The pontoon, however, is a major gateway into the town
centre and the wider borough. How can it be used to help attract shoppers and visitors to cross over from
Portsmouth to visit Gosport too?
Leisure and tourism important to Gosport’s future
“Leisure and tourism is one area which could be very important to Gosport's future. I think the proposed
new Holbrook leisure Centre is a really exciting project. It is a quality facility that could attract people in
from further afield.
“Gosport has a fantastic waterfront asset. There must be opportunities for developing marine-
“Once there's a sense of confidence in Gosport, that can act as a lever for private sector investment. In
other words, they too can be enthused. And that's really one of my key roles – helping to set the right
conditions, getting the investment environment right, and having the right planning tools that are receptive
to the needs of developers and other investors. If the public sector has the confidence to deliver, then that
raises the confidence of the private sector to invest.”
Gosport needs a new ‘brand’
Key to his thinking is using Gosport's historic and natural assets to develop a compelling 'brand' for the
area.
“There is enormous potential for tourism along the whole waterfront that has yet to be fulfilled. We have
key sectors in marine technology and advanced manufacturing here. It's a real niche. We have
employment sites with major potential, for example at Daedalus and Priddy's Hard. Businesses and
Investors need to know these strategic sites are available. As these sites are brought forward for
development we need to ensure that Gosport's skills base is such that there are opportunities for
creating new, higher-
“This is about Gosport's image as much as anything. If you ask someone 'what is Gosport'?, a lot of
people from outside the borough won't have heard of it, and those who have probably know it through it's
association with naval activity. That is important, of course, but what else is there? What about the
natural beauty of the area? How do we get the message across to people that it is worth coming to
Gosport to see places such as Lee, Stokes Bay and the Alver valley?”
Linking Gosport to Portsmouth
One way to promote Gosport is to link it more explicitly to neighbouring Portsmouth, he says.
“We shouldn't be shy of linking Portsmouth to Gosport. If people are coming to Portsmouth to visit,
there's no reason why they shouldn't come over to Gosport as well. We've got naval museums, they've
got naval museums, so let's market them together. Why not combine a visit to the Naval Dockyards with
a trip to the Explosion and the Submarine Museum?
“Portsmouth is a window on Gosport. How can we entice people over from the Quays? They need to
like what they see. Let's think about public art, although I'm certainly not talking about building another
Spinaker! Let's look at other examples of success, such as Gateshead and how it has come to be
inextricably associated with Newcastle.
“We need to get people to stay here longer. There is a lack of quantity and quality of accommodation.
There is room for more and better hotel bed spaces.
“We can bring a certain customer profile to Gosport. Bringing people with higher incomes will
encourage investors, it will create demand for more and better services which in turn means more
and better paid jobs. Everyone can and should benefit.”
Bringing investors to the High Street
Wilson will soon be meeting with members of Gosport's Tourism Forum and also his counterparts in
Portsmouth to discuss ways to build the borough's profile and develop greater links with the city.
Partnerships are a recurrent theme, both locally and regionally as a way of magnifying the effectiveness
of what the council – and it's more modest resources -
“If you look at the High Street, we need to see what we can do with the County Council, the South East
England Development Agency and other agencies to look at improving its utility.
“It is very important for the local private sector to sign up to a common vision of how we can take
Gosport forward, because ultimately they are our ambassadors. They need to advocate on our behalf.
So we need to support them and encourage them.
“Gosport's private sector needs to be supported through the current economic climate in order to
sustain existing businesses. We want them to come through and then to be able to make the most of
the new opportunities.”
Gosport is a very friendly place
What Wilson brings is more than enthusiasm: he is also seeing Gosport through a fresh pair of eyes.
It's also clear that he has quickly taken to our area – and is planning on staying.
“Gosport feels almost more like a northern town than a Hampshire town. People talk to you on the bus,
it's a very friendly place. It's an area with so much to offer, it is nothing like what some people say. I'm
a keen cyclist, and there is so much to explore. I like it here!
“And if we can just get the waterfront and the High Street right we can create a gateway and a town
to be proud of”.
Damien Wilson, Director
of Economic Development,
Gosport Borough Council
of Economic Development,
Gosport Borough Council