Economic leaders across the South West are urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to make good on promises for investment as the region forges ahead with its Covid-19 recovery plan.
Last month, Johnson said the South West's ambitions to become a world leader in marine and renewable technology would be boosted by Government investment.
And with a month to go until the Spring budget - the region wants a tailor-made package to help the tourism sector left squeezed by repeated lockdowns.
A question by South West Devon MP Sir Gary Streeter at Prime Minister's Questions on January 21 asked for assurance that the strategy for 'levelling up' does not just involve the north but every region of the United Kingdom, including the South West.
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He said that the South West has set out its priorities clean growth and marine high-tech clusters but it needs continued investment in infrastructure.
In response, the Prime Minister said: "The potential of the greater south-west is enormous, particularly in the areas of blue and green technology. My hon. Friend can be assured that we will be giving massive investment in infrastructure to support the green industrial revolution in the South West as well as in all parts of the 海角视频."
An alliance of business leaders, councils, chambers of commerce, universities and colleges have joined forces under the Great South West partnership, backed by the Back the Great South West campaign.
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The campaign was founded five years ago by Pennon with our sister publication, the Western Morning News and the region’s business community to set up a unified voice for the region as the 海角视频 prepared for Brexit.
Last year, the setting out its priorities to become a clean energy powerhouse and the environmental capital of the 海角视频.
It wants to become a world leader in autonomous marine technologies, grow as a test bed for new technologies and thinking, become a centre for the farming revolution and act as a beacon for rural productivity and tourism excellence.
The partnership represents a powerhouse economy worth £64bn across the peninsula counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset and it says the region has the potential to generate an extra £45bn for the 海角视频’s economy and create 190,000 new jobs over the next 15 years.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Great South West partnership had gained momentum with the formation of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) lobbying for infrastructure priorities.
It asked for a £2million boost to get started on its agenda but momentum was soon overtaken as Covid-19 flattened the 海角视频 economy.
The Government white paper on 'levelling up, devolution and local recovery has been delayed, reportedly until after May this year.
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And while the South West is ready to capitalise on its natural assets and areas of expertise, it is looking for more support for its hospitality and tourism industry as it battles to survive the Covid-19 pandemic.
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Heart of the South West LEP which is among the leaders of the Great South West, said "Our big ask from March's budget is specific support for the tourism sector.
"The because of its reliance on leisure and tourism and any support needs to have a South West focus for that reason.
"Our prospectus sets out a new plan for tourism and what that could look like in the future and we want to see that as a priority alongside our ambitions for green energy, including .
"It feels like during the summer we were starting to look at recovery but with subsequent lockdowns and restrictions it does feel like we are back to business survival."
Data by the shows how the region is one of the most exposed areas to the impact of the Covid-19 fallout and among those that have been 'left behind' economically.
Mr Ralph said: "Most of the energy in discussions over levelling up have been about the North and the Midlands but that doesn't trickle down to the M5 and I am nervous about that."
He said that the and the wider region and once again put it square in the public consciousness.
He said: "It will be a showcase, undoubtedly and my hope is that it gets our long term goals of the , the and offshore wind plans over the line.
"We want to start talking about the new economy but we are still talking about the issues that we were calling for 20 years ago."
Pennon Chief Executive, Susan Davy, said: "The South West’s economy has been one of the hardest hit by Covid-19 - as one of the largest companies in the region, we believe we have a responsibility to support the local economy and promote the South West.
"We have an opportunity to have a green economic recovery, improving the environment in a unique region where our land, coast, and sea underpins our success. Hosting the G7 provides us with a global platform and the chance to show the best of the South West.
"Other regions in the 海角视频 are already vying for investment from the Government, so its vital the Great South West speaks with a joined-up voice – business coming together with LEPs and MPs, ensuring that the Government delivers on its promises in areas such as transport and digital infrastructure."