October 30, 2018 4.18 pm This story is over 64 months old

“Hundreds” of jobs saved by county council intervention

Saved from the brink

Lincolnshire County Council has revealed it has protected “hundreds” of jobs in the South of the county after helping a major food company stay and expand.

Lincolnshire County Council Executive Portfolio Holder for Economy Colin Davie revealed the news to councillors at the Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday.

After speaking of his sadness over the closure of Fogarty in Boston, Councillor Davies outlined a number of recent successes including the growth of Team Lincolnshire, work with the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and the promotion of the county to places such as America and China.

He then announced the county had helped a yet to be named “major food business” to stay in the south of the county and was also having success in the Kirton Distribution Park – which has been an ongoing concern near Boston for a number of years.

“There’s a vibrancy around the areas of Boston and the South of the county in buckets and spades I would say, despite the sadness of the Fogarty announcement there is a lot of positive stuff going on,” he said.

He said he was unable to name the company due to a non-disclosure arrangement but said: “We work with a lot of businesses to overcome planning issues in terms of wanting to expand and modernise but also accessing the right kind of financial support.”

“The company themselves will make an announcement when they’re ready but it’s a substantial number of employees, hundreds of people work for this company, and the fact they are staying and expanding in Lincolnshire will be very, very welcome news – hopefully it will be a great Christmas present if they can put the news out by then.”

He said the business planned to expand its site and invest in new technologies and processes.

“It will send a strong message that a company that has an international reputation is prepared to invest in Lincolnshire.”

He said the company had been looking at its place in the global market place and said he wanted to make the argument “you can trade with the world from Lincolnshire”.

“They can be based in Lincolnshire and work around the world,” he said, pointing to a number of close transport infrastructure.”

He said the Kirton Distribution Park had been a long-burning issue but now had nearly all of its 19 acres of service land occupied and a further 10 acres of non-service land nearly going to contract with business.

A further 10 acres of the land was also under discussion with another company.

“Despite all the negativities in the national media Lincolnshire is progressing well and bucking he trend and despite the sadness of the Fogarty announcement in Boston there are lots of positives going on in our county,” he said.


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