THE ROAD to recovery in Salisbury is in place according to Alistair Cunningham, Wiltshire Council’s director for growth and investment.

He told the South Wiltshire Business Summit that the actions being taken by the council and its partners would secure the return to growth in the region.

Addressing business people and other interested people in the city, he said the challenge was significant, with Salisbury still suffering an 11 per cent year on year decline in footfall if you take January as a measure.

He said they are still working to support businesses in the short term with funding from the government and they are working with partners on a series of initiatives to “really try and drive renaissance growth in the city and move away from that uncomfortable picture.”

He said Visit Wiltshire have invested "a few hundred thousand" into Salisbury in terms of not only direct funding, but also national advertising and that the brand positioning work, looking at the strengths of the city, was also still in progress.

An important part of the strategy is to create a cultural quarter in Salisbury, and he added: “We are looking at how we develop the cultural, creative and heritage assets of the city.”

Another focus was to drive people back into the city through events: “The Christmas Market was an example where people have reminded themselves how good and safe Salisbury is.”

He said they were delighted to have persuaded the Government to hold Armed Forces Day in the City in the summer, which he anticipated would create a “good buzz in and around the city.”

The development of Porton as a Science and Life Science incubator was also an indicator that things were improving. Phase One of the park has now been completed and development would continue.

Also, the site occupied by QinetiQ at Boscombe will undergo development. “There is an opportunity there to redevelop the entire site, bring in engineering companies and develop an Engineering and Aeronautical Park adding to the military’s capability and capacity in this area.

“That project is moving at quite a pace now and there are a number of things where we cannot say at the moment, but we are looking at the announcement of some significant opportunities both for Amesbury and also Salisbury in coming weeks.

“There will be significant investment coming here on the back of partners working together. John Glen, the council and SWLEP and others working together.”

Mr Cunningham said the one year anniversary of the attack would inevitably attract attention but “hopefully they will pick up some of these positive stories about how this city has been resilient.”

He added: “There is significant amount of work taking place to in effect change that perception of Salisbury.

"We have global coverage now of Salisbury. We want people to understand why they should come here for leisure, business or retail purposes.”