The recently re-vamped Preston Vision Board has appointed Eliot Lewis-Ward as its new Chief Executive.
The biggest immediate challenge he faces is that of the cynicism that is now widespread across the local business community about the ability (or rather lack of it) of the powers that be to deliver the major plans that he has now been charged with delivering.
In particular, there is a growing sense among business leaders that the £700 million city centre regeneration scheme will not happen. Preston City Council Leader Ken Hudson inadvertently added to the pessimism surrounding the Tithebarn project when he admitted last week that the authority was unable to put a date on when the scheme would start. This after almost a decade of planning!
Fortunately, Lewis-Ward has experience of dealing with cynics, having worked in Liverpool for a number of years. There too, promises were made, and often broken, over a period of many years.
With the catalyst that was the European Capital of Culture year, the city finally delivered a good number of developments that have transformed the place.
Let us hope that the appointment of a new Vision Chief and the forthcoming Preston Guild, can give this city a similar push in the right direction.