WORKING in The Journal's office this week I'm amazed at how many interesting and positive news is coming out of Lowestoft.Of course, there has always been good things going on in the town but it isn't until you see the amount of letters, press releases and reports just how many.

WORKING in The Journal's office this week I'm amazed at how many interesting and positive news is coming out of Lowestoft.

Of course, there has always been good things going on in the town but it isn't until you see the amount of letters, press releases and reports just how many.

In these dreary winter months it's great to know that despite the cold and rain, people's positive attitudes aren't being dampened.

Speaking to the head teachers of Lowestoft's middle schools this week it was obvious to me that despite the impending 2010 closure of middle schools the majority of those who I spoke to had an overall optimistic outlook on the future.

Also, whilst researching the subject of sports activities within Lowestoft's primary schools I found there to be a fantastic attitude from both teaching staff and children, despite the recent news that less than one in four Suffolk schools has it's own swimming facilities. So often, the start of the year is seen as a gloomy time, so it's great to know that good news is still out there.

Last week's Journal told of the joint campaign between the newspaper and the town's Marina Theatre's to keep the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing in town and this week there has been overwhelming support from key figureheads.

Some of the areas leading civic dignitaries have got behind the campaign. With comments such as “vitally important”, “unique” and “first class” things look good for the links between the orchestra and the theatre.

In recent times there have been numerous developments across the town, all going towards a facelift for Lowestoft. It appears these ambitions haven't halted yet with new plans to regenerate the run down Brook Peninsula area by Lake Lothing. The site used to be home to the Brooke Marine Shipyard and has been highlighted as a key area for development.

These plans would mean that 100 new homes would be built and perhaps even more significantly a brand new retirement home would be built offering a modern home for 200 residents. Also, in a year where property prices will be the subject on a lot of people's lips, redevelopment of this particular area will result in surrounding properties increasing in value. As well as that, surrounding green areas will be landscaped and new footpaths and cycleways will be created. Anything that makes the aesthetics of our town even better and benefit local businesses and people has got to be a good thing.

Over the past year, art and heritage in Waveney has received rather a lot of attention, with the Waveney District Council art and heritage service celebrating its first birthday this week. With the beautiful scenery of the coast and the broads there certainly isn't a shortage of inspirational artists across the district.

Of course, there will always be bad news, as with any town, and newspapers need to report it. Bad news does, as the old saying goes, sells. But at the same time, it's refreshing to find that despite some people doing bad things, there are still many who do good.