Stefan Pidluznyj, Local Democracy Reporter

An increased focus on how tourism can boost economic growth is set to be a key goal in the county council’s efforts to protect and improve the Lincolnshire Wolds.

The Wolds were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) 45 years ago and cover 216 square miles between Louth, Market Rasen, Caistor, Horncastle, Spilsby and Alford.

Lincolnshire County Council has a statutory duty to conserve the natural beauty of the Wolds and produces a five year management plan outlining its key objectives for the area.

Members of the council’s Executive will consider the new plan running up until 2023 at a meeting in Lincoln on Tuesday, May 1.

It is considered to be more of a “light steer” rather than a significant departure from the existing plan, and has been supported by the Lincolnshire Wolds Joint Advisory Committee.

The plan was previously endorsed Lincolnshire County Council’s Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee in January this year, with councillors at the meeting stressing the need to attract more tourists to the area.

The latest data available shows that over 3.4 million people visited the Wolds in 2016, with tourism contributing £166.5 million to the local economy.

Working with local businesses and communities, the council hopes to encourage the development of cycle hire and bike loan schemes, walking routes and horse riding.

The council proposes further joint promotion under the Love Lincolnshire Wolds tourism partnership, and to market the area to people visiting Lincoln, the East Coast or Cadwell Park.

An emphasis will also be placed on providing more land which is available for a variety of uses.

The council also hopes to promote the importance of established events such as the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival.

Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for Economy and Place at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This new management plan for the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB provides us with an opportunity to manage this beautiful designated landscape for future generations.

“Whilst it is a living and working landscape it is one of only two designated landscapes in the East Midlands region. The beautiful rolling countryside, picture postcard villages and high quality pub and food offer is highly attractive to tourists and visitor numbers have grown considerably in recent years.

“It is vital we plan for more visitors in the years ahead whilst planning to protect those things that make the area so attractive.”

A Boston commercial development which could include a restaurant, café and leisure facilities in addition to office space has been given the go-ahead by the council.

Boston Borough Council granted full planning permission to applicant Robin Evans’ proposals for the vacant plot of land located at Endeavour Park.

A total of 12 business units set out in a courtyard development will be created on the land west of Gilbert Drive and south of Enterprise Way.

The applicant has said that the majority of units will be used for industry, storage and distribution.

A gym could be built as part of the potential leisure use for one of the units.

Planning permission was granted to allow flexibility in the use of the buildings to allow them to made available to a more diverse range of businesses.

Access will be from Enterprise Way and 34 car parking spaces will be provided, along with 12 van parking spaces.

CCTV will also be installed as part of the development.

In supporting the application, agents CDC Architecture Ltd said: “The size of the units has been specifically designed to suit small and fledgling businesses to encourage business growth and development.

“The arrangement of the site has been designed to create an environment where collaboration and enterprise can flourish whilst allowing flexibility and business growth.”