PRIME Minister Tony Blair's downbeat New Year's message,

warning of a difficult year ahead, certainly had relevance to events here in South Lakeland this week.

The warning about the economy facing hard times in 2003 came just days after it was announced that 105 jobs were to go at WRM Logistics, the Milnthorpe haulage business, which closed on Christmas Eve.

South Lakeland District Council has taken a commendable positive line, with a pledge to use the site as a lure for other firms and jobs.

The former Libby's factory, ideal for warehousing and general use, will be marketed on the council's register sent to more than 250 firms that have expressed an interest in moving to the area.

It certainly seems to be well positioned for access to the M6 and A6, although residents of Milnthorpe have already expressed concern at the number of lorries trundling through the village to and from the depot.

Access from the opposite direction takes the juggernauts over a fragile-looking bridge over the canal at Crooklands, so perhaps the road links need to be improved before another haulier is invited in.

But WRM is only the latest in an ever-growing list of major

employers scaling down, moving out or closing for business.

This makes it ever more important to keep encouraging others to take their place.

So a double investment in the area either side of the River Leven at Backbarrow by different developers, and Lakeland Limited's plans to transform industrial buildings by Windermere railway station into a flagship store, hold out the promise of several hundred jobs between them.

Let's hope the proposals meet the requirements of the Lake District National Park planners. This is no time to look gift horses in the mouth. The Lakeland scheme in particular seems to be extremely well thought-out, and would enhance the little clutch of buildings at the entrance to the holiday honey-pot.

If Mr Blair were right that, after ten years of economic growth, we are in for recession, then every employment opportunity would be doubly welcome.

But these ups and downs in the economy will be as nothing compared to his other dire warnings over terrorism and war.

Even the tentacles of terrorism stretched as far as South Lakeland this week with two men held for several days under the relevant legislation. Although they were charged late yesterday with fund-raising, the security at the magistrates court was a grim reminder that we all need to remain vigilant in these difficult times.

It is insecurity that is the common theme. Doubts over the future of jobs and pensions; doubts over how best to enforce rules in social behaviour and our asylum system; doubts over the threat of terrorism.

These all combine to undermine the quality of life.

The best antidote to such pessimism is the community-spirited behaviour as illustrated every week in the columns of this newspaper.

This week sees the winner of a lucky draw, for particularly poignant reasons, handing over her prize to a child who suffers from the same disease that killed the donor's husband; another child receives an equally generous gift from local toy shop O'Loughlin's, just because the owner was asked to; and lives will be saved around the shores of Windermere because local people were

willing to put themselves out enough to raise money to buy four defibrillators in just a few months.

Such kindnesses will become ever more important, if the gloom and doom merchants prove right about 2003.

January 3, 2003 12:30