WHAT a difference 12 months can make!

This time in 2010 the Forres area was still shell-shocked from the news that RAF Kinloss was due to close and worried about the uncertainty that surrounded the future of both the base and the local economy more generally.

But now, as we approach the end of another year, we can look forward much more optimistically.

Firstly, we know the Royal Engineers will be moving into Kinloss by next summer, giving us some sense of clarity and certainty to allow us to plan for our area's future.

But, perhaps more importantly, in the last few months we have received good news about new business coming our way. First there was the announcement that life sciences company Accunostics were opening a development facility on the Forres Enterprise Park, and then came word of Capita's expansion to its call centre on the same site.

And this week, as reported in our pages, we have found out French multinational Atos are planning to bring 50 high-skilled jobs to Forres. Furthermore, the company has also said it is committed to modern apprenticeships - something we desperately need if we want our young people to stay in the area.

All this is a sign that business has confidence in our area's future, and that we can have the same.

Last year Moray was named the most defence-dependent area in the United Kingdom. Changing this situation will not happen overnight, but all of this investment is surely a sign that we are heading in the right direction.

One further sign for optimism comes from this week's announcement - the fact that Atos will initially be based in an unused building at RAF Kinloss.

This newspaper, through the Fair Deal campaign, has repeatedly called for the base's facilities to be put to community use and not left as empty shells, and it now looks as if that message has been heard.

Another worry that existed throughout Forres this time last year, and, indeed, for most of the last 12 months as well, was the future of Leanchoil Hospital.

The building is a much-valued community resource, and people have been rightly concerned over the health board's long-term plans for it.

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition to keep it open, but the closure of its overnight wing in January led many to fear its days were numbered.

However, we are happy to report in this edition that it will now accept bed patients again following a £100,000 refurbishment.

This is undoubtedly excellent news, and hopefully it guarantees the hospital a long-term future at its rightful place at the heart of our community.