LEP Lobbies for Better Rail Connections for Lincoln

News release

18th April 2013

Poor rail services between Lincoln and London are hampering the county’s economic growth, according to the Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Ursula Lidbetter has personally penned a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin MP setting out the case for better rail links and more frequent trains between Lincoln and the capital as a way to boost the local economy and improve tourism.

The LEP considers better road and rail infrastructure as a key priority to boosting the local economy. It hopes improvements can be made in time for the new Lincoln Castle Revealed project opening in 2015.

In her letter Ursula said the current rail service to London didn’t reflect the growing economic importance of the city: “Lincoln is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK, with successful and fast-growing higher education facilities, a strong SME community combined with expertise in manufacturing and agri-food, and plans for significant housing and economic growth in the medium term.

“Within the last five years, there has been substantial population and business growth and Lincoln has strengthened its role as a sub-regional centre for service and employment. In particular I want to emphasise Lincoln as a visitor destination; tourism is the second most important industry in the Lincolnshire economy (after agriculture) and is worth £927 million and 17,175 jobs*.

“Lincoln in particular is a growing tourism destination which aims to be a top-rank historic city destination. The £20 million Lincoln Castle Revealed project will see the creation of a purpose-built Magna Carta centre and open access to the grounds. Due for completion in 2015, it is estimated that this will result in a 30 to 50 per cent increase in the value of tourism which equates to an economic impact of between £38 and £68 million.

“I do hope that the Department for Transport will be able to support the LEP’s plans for economic growth across Greater Lincolnshire and that we have demonstrated the economic demand for an increased service to and from London.”

The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is a private and public sector-led body which works to improve infrastructure and the conditions for doing business in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire.

For more information about the LEP visit www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk or speak to Ruth Carver or Kate Storey by calling 01522 550515.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• *Tourism in Lincolnshire is worth £927 million and 11,175 jobs to the local economy, according to data from EM Tourism , 2009
• The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership is a private and public sector partnership led by the private sector which aims to improve conditions for infrastructure and doing business in the Greater Lincolnshire area.
• One of the first LEPs to be established in the UK, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP covers a large geographical area with a population of over one million and a diverse range of industries, from ports and logistics to farming, tourism and engineering.
• It includes North and North-East Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire and is controlled by a LEP board made up of leading figures in the public and private sector.

Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07985 143990
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney

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