Clock switch could provide '£200m' boast
CHANGES to British Summer Time which could mean a £200 million boost to the Westcountry tourism industry look a step closer, after key political figures backed the move.
Labour's Ben Bradshaw and Conservative tourism spokesman Tobias Ellwood have both supported a proposal to bring the clocks forward an extra hour throughout the year.
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Climate change campaigners have also added their voices to calls for the UK to change from the current arrangement of being on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in the winter and GMT+1 in the summer to GMT+1 in the winter and GMT+2 in spring and summer.
Other campaigners say the move would have a major knock-on affect in the Westcountry, and would particularly benefit the holiday industry.
They also say it could improve road safety, reduce energy use and boost wellbeing and happiness.
Mr Bradshaw, Culture Secretary and MP for Exeter, yesterday said: "A change would be good for business, good for tourism, good for the environment, improve safety and people's sense of well being. In a region such as ours with a big number of people working in farming or tourism the benefit would be particularly noticeable."
Mr Ellwood said the arguments for the change were "more powerful than ever, with environmental, road safety, leisure, energy conservation and public safety advantages outweighing disadvantages".
But Scottish politicians oppose the change, saying it will mean children will have to go to school in the dark. They believe it could increase road accidents.
Yesterday, 10:10, a pressure group pushing for carbon reduction, launches its own Lighter Later campaign, saying the UK would "be one step closer to a 10 per cent reduction in its carbon emissions, as well as happier, healthier and better off".
Malcolm Bell, head of tourism in Cornwall, said changing the clocks could benefit the region by £200 million – but the advantages spanned far wider.
"The evening would go on longer, meaning we'd be more likely to stay out later, and have barbecues whenever the weather's warm enough," he said. "It's about enjoying life a bit more, and when that happens, tourism benefits."
He believes people would be healthier as a result of seeing more daylight and getting out more, and that the roads would be safer into the night. "I can think of about 20 good reasons to do this, even without tourism," he said.
But farmers are divided on the issue. Livestock farmer Richard Haddock, based in South Devon, believed there would be "very little benefit" to most, and said it would inconvenience organic chicken farmers, who would have to stay up later to keep foxes at bay at nightfall.
Ian Johnson, South West spokesman for the National Farmers' Union, said others, such as those who have diversified into tourism, were in favour.
"The key thing for busy farmers is that there are only 24 hours in the day," he said. "To many, it doesn't make a huge difference how you divide that up."
14 Comments
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by Albert, Truro
Tuesday, March 30 2010, 3:15PM
“All this political talk about changing BST is simply tinkering around the edges and is plainly an attempt to divert people's attention from matters of far greater import.
Anyone would think there was an election looming!”
by Ted, Local
Tuesday, March 30 2010, 1:38PM
“I forgot to add, GMT-1 will then merge with GMT-2 also making it twice as big as most of the other time zones.”
by Ted, Local
Tuesday, March 30 2010, 1:35PM
“To expand further:
If standard time in Greenwich itself is to become GMT+1 won¿t that mean GMT+1 will, in effect, become GMT, as it occupies that time zone. Otherwise, GMT will become a meaningless term. If that happens, won¿t all of the World¿s time zones have to be advanced one hour? If this does not happen and the GMT time zone remains GMT+1 then it will merge with the next time zone to the east which is also GMT+1. That will give us a time zone that is twice the size of any other time zone and GMT will disappear. Furthermore, the time zone that is presently GMT-1 will be two-hours before what is now the GMT time zone making it, in reality GMT-2.”
by Dave Joslin, St Austell
Tuesday, March 30 2010, 10:54AM
“Whatever happens there will be no change in the amount of daylight hours so for anyone who benefits someone will will be worse off. I can't see where this extra money is coming from just by altering the clocks.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, March 30 2010, 8:58AM
“:| "Malcolm Bell, head of tourism in Cornwall, said changing the clocks could benefit the region by £200 million."
This propaganda is just part of the 'Common Purpose' push to put us into the European time zone. . . The final push will come when they try and make us all drive on the Right Hand side of the road. . The experiment in 1968 was a total disaster for school children and the 'usual' protagonists are now coming out with their phoney 'statistics'.”
by Ted, Local
Tuesday, March 30 2010, 8:20AM
“If standard time in Greenwich itself is GMT+1 won¿t that mean GMT+1 will, in effect, become GMT. Otherwise, GMT will be a meaningless term. If that happens, won¿t all of the World¿s time zones have to be advanced one hour?”
by stephen redpath-bergman, north cornwall
Monday, March 29 2010, 6:49PM
“it would result in being 'lighter later' but darker sooner' in the mornings. It seems the politicians havn't run out of hot air yet. Most of the world is plus or minus gmt, or utc' as it is now known - are they really saying that gmt will be a fantasy. More important are computer programs most of which take bst into account, are we expected to change all our software?”
by Rob, Penzance
Monday, March 29 2010, 6:11PM
“Where do they pluck these figures from? £200 million boost in tourism? seriously do they just think of any number?
1. tourists only have a finite amount of money as it is (whatever the time)
2. Since when do people on holiday give a stuff about time?
If anything we should harmonise our time with the continent, which would have tangible benefits for trade with Europe and would boost the ecnonomy by £345 million a year.”
by Tom, St Just
Monday, March 29 2010, 2:53PM
“Britain is a bit small to have time zones. What if the Scots lobbied for GMT-1 in the Summer. And GMT -2 in the winter ?
You cant please everyone with this one.”
by Brian, Truro
Monday, March 29 2010, 2:51PM
“If we did this it will not get light until 8am and some of us start work at 6am and enjoy the lighter mornings!”