Message from Council Leader Martin Hill OBE

No-one would claim that everything in Lincolnshire’s economic garden is rosy. In such difficult times, that would be foolish.

However, there are many encouraging signs, not least the high levels of confidence amongst the business leaders I meet.

So what lies behind my optimism? Wishful thinking? Far from it!

It’s no secret that growth requires infrastructure - particularly good transport links - and Lincolnshire has plenty to celebrate on that score.

For example, the long-awaited dualling of the A46 from Leicester to Lincoln is now nearing completion, putting our county well and truly on the national map.

Just as important is the Lincoln Eastern Bypass, which could open as early as 2016, greatly improving traffic flows throughout the region. Lincoln itself will benefit from a new East West Link across the city centre.

In the south of the county, steady progress is being made towards a Grantham Southern Bypass, opening the door to major housing and regeneration programmes, as well as the Spalding Western Relief Road.

Boston is also benefiting from a range of transport improvements under a joint transport strategy between the county and district councils, as well as from the refurbishment of the Market Place.

And it isn’t just transport that gives cause for optimism. There is also a huge amount happening when it comes to economic development.

Significantly, work has started on the Teal Park development in North Hykeham. With Siemens at its heart, it has the potential to attract £500m in investment over the next 10-15 years, supporting about 4,000 jobs. Italian engineers Bifrangi UK are also investing £50m in their Lincoln site.

Then there is the £6.6m awarded recently to the Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership to help its efforts to promote growth, while, on a smaller scale, The Eventus Business Centre in Market Deeping continues to support innovation in the south of the county.

Lincolnshire residents can also look forward to major improvements to the county’s broadband network, with pilot projects soon to get underway in coastal areas, the Wolds and the Fens.

The aim is to ensure that 90% of county properties benefit from superfast broadband by 2015. The remaining 10% will enjoy standard broadband by the same time, with efforts continuing to upgrade them further after that.

On top of all that, we’ve just had the fantastic news that Lincoln Castle - an attraction with truly international appeal - is to be brought to life as never before.

With £12m of Heritage Lottery Fund money secured, work can begin on a visionary Lincoln Castle Revealed project, including a new vault to showcase Magna Carta in time for its 800th anniversary in 2015.

The scheme could boost the value of tourism to the city by up to 55%, generating £68m for the local economy and creating 1,100 new jobs.

That will have beneficial effects not just in Lincoln but right across the county, encouraging a “feelgood” factor that I sense is getting stronger by the week.