Councillor Initiative Fund Cash Available

West Lindsey's District Council's Local Councillor Initiative Fund enables each District Councillor to put forward proposals for expenditure in their Wards to fund projects or initiatives which benefit the local community. All applications submitted are considered and assessed against how they contribute towards the themes, priorities and outcomes of the district council's Corporate Plan 2011/14.


Cllr. Giles McNeill (left) and Cllr. Malcolm Leaning (Right)
with an 'Aqua Sac' near the Chruch Lane bridge, Nettleham.

Nettleham's district councillors Giles McNeill (Conservative) and Malcolm Leaning (Liberal Democrat), have worked together and secured £500 of funding for Nettleham Parish Council to buy additional hi-tech 'aqua-sac' sandbags to be used in any future flooding incidents in the village.
A total of £4,000 over the next two years is available to each district councillor. From April 2013 a new allocation of money will be available to all 37 of the district Councillors.

Cllr. McNeill siad:

"I think this is a really great scheme, even though I was only recently elected, last September, I have put what monies I had available to me to good use; £30 for Neighbourhood Watch signs in Westfield Approach and £500 for Community Get-Togethers in North Greetwell. £500 has gone to Nettleham Cricket Club to help with repairs and improvement of the practice nets at Mulsanne Park in Nettleham. £90 has also gone towards some photographic equipment for children at Nettleham Infant School.

Details of the scheme's criteria can be downloaded here.

Giles McNeill Calls For 100 Hi-Tech Sandbags For Nettleham

Parish Councillor Giles McNeill led calls at yesterday's Nettleham Parish Council meeting to acquire a stock of special sand bags, known as Aqua-sacs,

So far eleven town and parish councils in West Lindsey have secured grants from West Lindsey District Council to support their communities and prevent flooding. Chris Allen, Public Protection Services Manager at the council recently said:

"We are delighted that we have been able to give grants to so many parish councils.

"The grants are being used for a variety of reasons including: clearing a beck of blockages, extending a culvert to stop flooding and developing flood risk management strategies."

The district council has £10,000 to allocate to town and parish councils, who are best placed to know and understand flooding issues within their areas. Mr Allen added:

"We still have a significant amount of money available which will be distributed on a first come first served basis.

"I would urge councils to apply for a share of the cash as soon as possible to make sure they do not miss out on this opportunity."



Cllr. Giles McNeill observes rising
water levels on Nettleham Beck

The Aqua-Sac is a revolutionary alternate to traditional sandbags for flood defence. Comprising a heavy duty Jute sack and a cotton liner with a patented centre stitch, containing a Super-Absorbent Polymer the Aqua-Sac is simply submerged in water. After five minutes thirteen litres of water will have been absorbed creating an inflated 'sandbag'. Fifty aqua-sac sandbags is sufficient to protect four doors from 18" of flood water.

Nettleham Parish Council has agreed to fund the purchase of 50 aqua-sacs and apply for funding for a further 50 from the district council. The aqua-sacs will be stored in the Old School in the centre of the village. Cllr. McNeill said:

"I think these will be very useful, easily stored when compared to traditional sandbags, with the ability to dry them out and reuse them make them a sound investment."

£100,000 Flood Prevention Project to Start at Fiskerton

Work to strengthen flood defences in a West Lindsey village is set to start next week.

 

Fiskerton has been plagued by flooding problems for more than twenty years but now their misery is set to come to an end.

 

West Lindsey District Council has teamed up with a number of partners to help deliver an innovative solution to the problem.

 

Plans have been drawn up to intercept much of the surface and land drainage from the uphill side of the village and redirect it, back under, rather than through the village.

 

Mr. Tony Adams, Flood Prevention Officer at West Lindsey District Council, thanked everyone involved in making the scheme possible. He said:

"The involvement and contribution of the Church Commissioners, the tenant farmer, The Witham Third Internal Drainage Board and the Parish Council have been invaluable and without their support and passage through the school, then this scheme could not have come about."

Work is expected to start on the scheme on Tuesday at Fiskerton Church of England Primary School.

 

This part of the work is expected to be complete by September, in time for the children to return after the summer holidays.

 

Other and more extensive work will be carried out in the field north of the village hall and lesser works in the fields to the east and west and is expected to be complete by the end of September.

 

The work has been made possible thanks to funding from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

 

Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward) said:

"This is exciting news - although there have been a few hurdles to overcome it is great to know it is going ahead.

 

"It really good how many people have worked together to make this happen, it has been a real team effort.

 

"Residents of Fiskerton were affected quite badly in the 2007 floods because of the pressures of the existing drainage systems and this news will give them a real boost.

 

"West Lindsey has done a huge amount of work in working with residents, making sure they knew what was happening and why.

 

"I would like to thank staff at West Lindsey for getting the DEFRA grant; it is a real credit to them."

Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway, Chairman of Community and Waste Services Committee at the council, said:

"West Lindsey and its partners have worked very hard to secure this money for the Fiskerton flooding scheme.

 

"I am absolutely delighted that work is going to start and hopefully it will relieve the problems for residents."

Disruption to the village as a whole will be kept to a minimum as work to all but the village hall and the school works will be via the entrance to the airfield at Reepham Road.

 

Work will be limited to the hours of 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings.

 

Part of the village hall grounds will be closed to ensure safe work and access.

 

Partners involved in the scheme include:

• The Church Commissioners
• The Tenant Farmer, Mr Philip Good
• The Witham Third Internal Drainage Board
• Anglian Water
• LincolnshireCounty Council - Highways
• LincolnshireCounty Council - Fiskerton C.E. Primary School
• West Lindsey District Council

Parishes Urged To Apply For Flood Funding

Parish councils are being urged to apply for a share of cash to protect them from the risks of flooding.


West Lindsey District Council has set aside a total of £110,000 to help beat the misery of water getting into people's homes.

A total of £100,000 will go towards helping partners with the costs of major projects and £10,000 is available to help parish councils manage flood risks.
Mr. Chris Allen, Public Protection Services Manager at West Lindsey District Council, said:

"Parish Councils are best placed to know about and understand flooding issues within their areas.

"This new fund will provide vital financial support to Parish Councils and their communities to proactively manage the threat of flooding and to increase resilience against flooding."

Parish councils will be able to use the cash to support their communities to help themselves to actively prevent and manage flood risk. Mr. Allen said:

"The grant may be used to train flood wardens, supply flood wardens with personal protective equipment or to pay for equipment and tools that may be needed during a flooding event."

But councils are being urged to get their applications in as soon as possible as the cash is only available this financial year 2010/2011.

"We have £10,000 to allocate and the money will be distributed on a first come first served basis"

Application forms are available from the Council's website at www.west-lindsey.gov.uk. Once fully completed they may be returned to the Council electronically or by post.

The £100,000 has been set aside for the Flood Mitigation (match-funding) Grant Scheme.

This fund is aimed at supporting the delivery of major infrastructure schemes and projects around the district, in particular areas where communities were worst hit by the flooding during 2007. The focus of this support will be towards partnership projects that protect the most properties vulnerable to flooding and where Government grant funding has not been forthcoming. Mr. Allen said:

"Protection of these vulnerable communities is a high priority for the council hence our investment of £100,000 to support partners to deliver prevention schemes."

The schemes aim to ensure that additional resources committed by the Council in the recent budget speech are deployed in such a way as to protect the most vulnerable communities and households susceptible to flooding and securing value for money.

Residents are also being urged to have their say on West Lindsey District Council's Flood Risk Management Strategy. The strategy will set the council's priorities on flood prevention. Mr. Allen said:

"We would welcome your comments on our draft flood risk management strategy.

"It identifies how we will work effectively with our partner organisations, parish council's and communities locally to manage flood risk.

"The strategy will also dictate how we shall prioritise flood prevention and mitigation schemes to ensure that the most vulnerable communities are afforded the maximum protection from future, potential flooding events."

A paper copy of the strategy can be requested by contacting Anita Whiting on 01427 675125.

West Lindsey Nets £181,000 To End Flood Misery

Two bids for flood alleviation funding totalling £181,000 compiled by West Lindsey District Council have been backed by the government.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced that £96,000 has been awarded towards a project at Fiskerton and a further £85,000 for work at Sykes Lane in Saxilby.

A further £53,000 has been awarded to a Lincolnshire County Council project to provide highways improvements and a water course diversion scheme in Waddingham which will also ease flooding.

A delighted Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) said recognition from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was a just reward for councillors and officers who have worked tirelessly to bring flooding relief to local people.

"The terrible events of June 2007 focussed everyone's attention on the need to do as much as possible to prevent property flooding on that scale ever happening again. By implementing these grant funded schemes, approximately 90 households that were previously vulnerable to flooding will be protected.

"We have done remarkably well to secure a slice of only £5 million available nationally - West Lindsey was the only district council in Lincolnshire to be successful - and we are fully committed to doing everything we can to get more funding for other schemes in our area that urgently need implementing."

The terms of the funding mean that schemes have got to be complete by March 2011, and in Fiskerton work is due to be completed as soon as August 2010.

The Fiskerton project is the result of West Lindsey District Council, the Third Witham Drainage Board, developer Morris Homes and the local parish council all working together on a scheme which will intercept water from the north of the village and then divert it under the village - rather than through it - to the drains to the south and then out to the North Delph.

The scheme is designed to resist a six hour storm with an additional thirty percent capacity built in to allow for climate change.

In Saxilby there are known flood risk problems on Sykes Lane and the funding award will be used to tackle flood risk from surface and ground water after heavy rain and to re-route water away from the village towards established and maintained watercourses to the north.

Making the funding announcements, Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said:

"Local authorities have a crucial role to play in tackling flooding and it's vital that they have these funds now so that work can begin on resolving local flooding immediately. At the same time they will have the chance to develop the understanding and skills they need for the longer term. We wanted to make sure these funds went to where they are most needed and where they can make the biggest difference."

Nettleham's Lib Dems Fail To Support Flood Prevention Bid

Last night Nettleham Parish Council agreed to a proposal by Cllr. Giles McNeill to attempt to draw down new funding from West Lindsey District Council to assist in Flood Prevention.

The funding package of £165,000 was announced in West Lindsey District Council's Budget at the beginning of March and made a priority for the district by Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward), who is also a Nettleham Parish Councillor. A bid for somewhere in the region of £10,000 will be made.

In the floods of June 2007 numerous properties were flooded and the Parish Council were active in investgating and seeking recommendations for solutions. To that end the Parish Council engaged the services of Faber Maunsell, leading consultants on such matters and a report was produced. A key recommendation was:

"Development of a hydraulic model of Nettleham Beck and its tributary through Danby Hill."

This would assist in the analysis of various scenarios and potential solutions. Whilst every other member of Nettleham Parish Council were able to support this proposal. Cllr. Alf Frith, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward) and Cllr. Ray Sellars, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham & Saxilby Division) could not support the proposal.

Cllr. Giles McNeill said:

"I think it is what we have come to expect from [Cllrs. Sellars & Frith], they dither and attempt to rationalise their actions, but in reality they didn't have a good reason to object, it was political posturing and not in our community's interest.

"The money from West Lindsey District Council lets us take action that helps to build the argument for making improvements against the flooding risk situation in the village."

Public Meeting Held To Discuss Flood Scheme For Fiskerton

The Lincolnshire Echo is today reporting on the major new plans, that we reported on here earlier in the week, as having been put forward to tackle flooding Fiskerton at a public meeting.


They report that officials unveiled proposals that aim to collect and store water from the beleaguered village of Fiskerton, in order to reduce pressure on drains and sewers.

The scheme would intercept water from the north of Fiskerton and then divert it through existing pipes under the village - rather than through it - before it flows out into drains.

The £100,000 project was revealed last night to a village hall packed with locals.

District and parish councillors have teamed up with drainage officials, housing chiefs and other groups to hammer out a scheme that aims to reduce the amount of ground water getting into the sewage and drainage system.

They are also offering locals a "one-off" opportunity to help to repair watercourses on the land of homeowners who may not even know such things are on their land.

But while no-one at the meeting could question the need to combat flooding, concerns were raised about whether some locals might have to pay to maintain the watercourses.

The paper reports on Mr. Tony Adams, an environmental official at West Lindsey District Council, as saying:

"There is a problem in Fiskerton and practically everywhere else in the district, and even wider still. This problem in Fiskerton was highlighted in the flooding of 2007, as it was everywhere else in West Lindsey.

"Part of the problem has been with ditches in what is referred to as the Morris Homes site. But we have problems throughout the village, and Fiskerton now has a unique opportunity to resolve them."

The aim of the meeting was to seek the community's support for the plans. But the final say will be made by councillors. The timeline outlined at the meeting would see the scheme finished by August this year.

Acknowledgement: LincolnshireEcho | News | 05/03/2010

Giles McNeill’s New Year’s Message

Earlier in the year I was pleased that Conservative led administration at West Lindsey District Council introduced the new ‘triple bin system’ which seems to be working well – delivering on our election promise in the 2008 local elections to provide a free green bin to every household that wants one. The three-bin system helps to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to landfill which is really good. Some local residents contacted me about having been charged the annual fee for the green bin shortly before they became free, I raised this with colleagues on the district council and the Conservatives have acted to ensure that a refund system is now in place.

The recent flooding in the North of England has brought back memories of the flooding that Nettleham suffered in the summer of 2007 and then again in January 2008. I have been working with colleagues at all levels to ensure that this threat is properly assessed and where possible mitigated. A few days before Christmas I and other members of the Parish Council met with two representatives of the Environment Agency to discuss our concerns about increased risk of flooding in the village. The meeting was very productive and has offered a number of reassurances and new avenues to follow-up. Highway drains are also now being cleaned more regularly.

The biggest issue of 2009 was the proposals of Lincoln Rugby Football Club to move their training ground to the village. The two public meetings held by the Parish Council demonstrated how much strong feeling there is in the village. I believe that there was little to object to on planning grounds in the Rugby Club’s planning application. West Lindsey District Council’s planning department has entered the spotlight in recent months with several stories related to planning in the Lincolnshire Echo. A number of problems have been identified and are now being put right. A new departmental manager is being recruited and I am optimistic that the service will be greatly improved in 2010 and beyond.

2010 is going to bring significant challenges. There will be cuts in public spending regardless of which party wins the general election. It is a testament to many long evenings spent pouring over the figures, that I was able to secure, at the current level, the precept – the money collected through Council Tax that goes to the Parish Council – so no increase on the 2008/09 budget.

I am constantly encouraged by the strong community spirit in Nettleham. For my part I will continue to do my best on behalf of local residents in the months ahead.

Wishing you the best for the New Year,

Giles McNeill
Nettleham Parish Councillor

Environment discussed with Shadow Minister

Meeting with Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Peter Ainsworth MP

I had the good fortune to meet with the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Peter Ainsworth, earlier this afternoon. Together with colleagues from west Lindsey District Council he had been touring the site for proposed new recycling facilities and the district's recycling operation.

Cllr. Adam Duguid (Market Rasen), Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council, makes his point to Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Peter Ainsworth.

Peter's commitment to green causes has earned him considerable respect amongst environmental groups. He is well aware that until David Cameron became Leader of the Party, the environment tended to be seen as something of a left wing issue. He passonately believes that it has always been natural territory for Conservatives. We discussed a number of issues, as did colleagues.

Disgusted at being locked out from Flooding Inquiry

Below is a selection of letters from today's Lincolnshire Echo, including one from Giles McNeill (first), Nettleham Ward candidate for West Lindsey District Council.

Following on from the report (January 21) 'Opening the floodgates' - Nettleham was once again on alert as the waters of the beck rose.

As a parish councillor in the village, I know the misery this has caused residents of the village.

Therefore I joined the Conservative councillors and numerous members of the public from across West Lindsey outside the new Guildhall in Gainsborough to protest at the exclusion of councillors and the public from the 'citizens' jury'.

On January 10 the council's own website had an introduction to "the public inquiry into the June 2007 flooding" by Councillor Reg Shore, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council.

I was shocked and disgusted when I and other West Lindsey residents were told we could not even watch events!

The summer flooding of 2007 affected families across the district from Nettleham all the way to Scotter, north of Gainsborough.

I think Coun Shore really should stop pretending that this 'public inquiry' is anything more than a publicity exercise.

GILES McNEILL Nettleham parish councillor.

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Can we all remember not so long ago the heatwave we were having and how hosepipe bans where in operation?

It caused so much damage to crops and farmland and many of the country's young and old found it difficult to cope with the high temperatures burning down on our heads.

Now the floods are here again. Maybe we prayed a bit too hard for rain!

NICK McGUIRE Bracebridge Heath.

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I feel sorry for people who live at Shuttleworth House and in that area of Lincoln.

The way the weather is going, flooding is likely to happen again.

Hopefully we will be well prepared next time round.

JODIE-ANN SIDEBOTTOM Lower Church Road, Skellingthorpe.

--------------------

In the Echo there was the headline 'In Deep Water'. Comments under the Grapevine heading (January 17) told of a ditch in Cranwell collecting rubbish and debris.

While travelling around the county and Nottingham recently, I did wonder whether the field drainage ditches and major drains are kept as clear of vegetation and other debris as they once were.

In the last few days many were very close to overflowing and filled with swirling, muddy water.

Who exactly is required to regularly maintain these drainage ditches? And indeed is this done on a regular basis?

With regard to the report (January 15), 'Flawed planning report attacked', I would condemn the statement that Lincoln's economy could face years of decline if the Government prevents a massive development going ahead.

I am of course referring to the proposed, and I believe ill-thought out, development of Swanpool.

I fear that the councillors and planners at the city council are totally at fault for even thinking of any development on a flood plain (I have seen what can happen to such an area, in West Sussex in 1979).

The historic term "Swanpool" must surely indicate what has happened in the past and may well happen in future years.

I for one would never consider buying a property, or investing in a business development on what the Environment Agency considers to be an area at risk from flooding.

If flooding does happen we can be sure that the city council will not fork out any compensation for damage and it would doubtless be uneconomic to provide household or other insurance policies to either households or businesses located on that site.

A. M. WADDINGTON Viking Way, Metheringham.

Nettleham to flood again? - Sewage contaminates beck.

Giles McNeill has said:

"I was very concerned this morning as I walked past the beck at several points that it is on the rise. I notified the parish clerk who has ordered 250 sandbags as a priority.

My thoughts and prayers are with local residents who may be affected at this time. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have a repeat of the summer floods."

UPDATE: Giles said:

"The Sandbags have arrived and have been strategically placed - lets hope that the waters continue to subside nd we get a bit of a dry spell. I hav ealso been informed that four of the drain covers have lifted in the Watermill Lane are and that raw sewage is now contaminating the beck - I am more concerned that local children have been playing in the beck and would urge everyone to caution the young against the dangers of such activities during flooding."

Shouldn’t a Public Inquiry be held in Public?

Conservatives and West Lindsey residents protest in anger at Liberal Democrats’ restriction of attendance by public and councillors at Citizens’ Jury.Conservative councillors and residents living across north-west Lincolnshire have reacted with anger to Liberal Democrat led West Lindsey District Council excluding district and county councillors together with interested members of the public from observing the proceedings of the Citizens’ Jury looking into the summer floods of 2007.


Conservative councillors at West Lindsey District Council are furious at being told by Cllr. Reginald Shore, the Leader of the Council, that they were not allowed to attend the Citizens’ Jury that took place at the new Council offices at Marshalls Yard in Gainsborough on Saturday 19th January 2008. The jury met in seclusion with representatives of Anglian Water, County Highways Department, the Environment Agency, Witham Drainage Boards, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, the Police, Severn Trent Water, council officers and other select invitees. The jury did not, as had been widely assumed by both councillors and residents, meet in open session.

County, District and Parish Councillors protested outside the New Guildhall brandishing placards asking “Shouldn’t a Public Inquiry be held in Public?” and collected signatures for a petition objecting to local residents’ elected representatives being barred from the meeting.


Cllr. Bernard Theobald, Conservative Group Leader said:

“The Council proclaims its values as ‘honest, professional and straightforward’ but this whole inquiry has been handled in a way that is anything but. Cllr. Shore has flip-flopped over the reasons for denying access – first it was because the room wasn’t big enough and now it is because “it is crucial to its success that the jury itself is not held in public”.

Cllr Meg Davidson who made the original suggestion last July that there should be a District-wide flood inquiry said:

"I represent an area which was badly affected by last summer’s floods and where there is now renewed anxiety as water levels are again running very high. I fully expected and intended to be present at the Inquiry on Saturday to observe the proceedings. I find it bizarre that the press was admitted to observe the Citizens’ Jury in action whilst the councillors, the elected representatives of the residents of West Lindsey were excluded."

Giles McNeill, Nettleham Parish Councillor said:

“We had several days of flooding in Nettleham, and it disgusts me that it has taken over six months to get answers from the various authorities; but I expected it to be a public event at which people like myself would be able to observe proceedings, even participate – I never imagined that it would be by invitation only and that they would need to pay people to attend!

West Lindsey Flood Inquiry becomes 'Damp Squib'

Conservative councillors at West Lindsey District Council are furious at being told by Cllr Reg Shore, the Lib Dem Leader of the Council, that they are not allowed to attend Saturday’s Flood Inquiry even as observers. The “Citizens’ Jury Flooding Review” to be held at the new Council offices at Marshalls Yard in Gainsborough on Saturday 19th January 2008 is not, as widely assumed by both councillors and residents, going to be held in public. Last week councillors were told this was because the new Council Chamber was too small, now they have been told that their presence would mean that “it might as well be a Public meeting and not a Jury”.

The Council has hired Birmingham based market research firm, BMG Research to run the event. BMG has promised to pay £50 in cash to each member of the Citizens’ Jury who attends. However, as WLDC is footing the bill, ultimately the £50 cash payouts will be coming from the Council taxpayers of West Lindsey.

Cllr Meg Davidson who made the original suggestion last July that there should be a District-wide flood inquiry said:

“This inquiry is in danger of becoming a ‘damp squib’. The event as now arranged is a far cry from what was implied at the start, namely an inquiry along the lines of a Parliamentary Select Committee. The intention was that senior representatives of the relevant agencies would give evidence, answer questions and be held to account and the proceedings would be held in public. That is the expectation of the residents of Langworth in my ward, one of the areas worst affected by last summer’s floods.

We were told that the jury would be given intensive training beforehand so that they would be fully briefed and knowledgeable on the day. It now turns out that the Citizens’ Jury will meet for the first time on the day of the event and the only briefing they have received is contained on 3 sides of A4 paper. I question how rigorous and well informed the Jury can be.”

Cllr. Bernard Theobald, Conservative Group Leader said:

“The Liberal Democrats have decided that the inquiry into recent Flooding in West Lindsey – that was supposed to be an opportunity for the public to attend and see the Water Authorities and other agencies being cross examined as to the cause of why so many of them were flooded out of their homes is to be held in all but secret.

“Members of the public and Conservative Councillors who wished to go to the meeting to listen to what was being said have been told they are not allowed to attend. The reason given changes on a daily basis: first it was insufficient space in the New Guildhall, then it was that observers would detract from the objective of the Jury, now we are told that it would turn into a public meeting. The Liberal Democrats have turned the Flood Inquiry into a sham and a farce and the residents of West Lindsey who are footing the bill are being treated with contempt.”

“There are also questions to be asked as to why those people who are on the list of select ‘invitees’ have been promised £50 cash, in a ‘brown envelope’, if they turn up on the day.”

Giles McNeill, Nettleham Parish Councillor, said:

"It really is a poor approach to take; numerous residents in Nettleham were affected by the flooding last summer and with the current rain the Beck is again swollen, and home-owners are on 'standby'."

Nettleham Green was badly flooded in the summer of 2007

Truelove Construction's vision of the villages' future

Nettleham Parish Council convened at the Sports Pavillion to discuss proposals for the removal of debris in the beck near the Watermill Ford and to recieve a presentation from Truelove Construction.

The plans envisage sustainable development for the village until the middle of the 2040s. The proposals included an extensive network of path and woodland development around the village, a new medical practice, a new community centre, a purpose build development close to the new medical practice for the elderly and gradual development of between 300-450 including affordable housing for the young.

Plans are currently in a particularly early stage, but the Parish Council agreed to consult further with Truelove Construction and then more widely with residents.

The East Midlands Regional Assembly will soon make their recommendations regarding housing need in our area and the regional planning policy suggests that West Lindsey will be expected to find land for 552 dwellings per year.

Further information is needed, further consultation is needed, Further consideration of the impact is needed and we will need to be clear about the terms of such delevopment if the council preceeds further.

Giles McNeill said:
"We have been presented a rare opportunity here to direct the course of development in our village to the middle of the century, but we must be clear about what we are entering into should we ultimately decide to give backing to these proposals. I am concerned that such a development may increase flood risk and so appropriate measures would need to be in place. I welcome these proposals and look forward to recieving a more complete and detailed proposal in the future."

Click on the image left to enlarge. The picture shows the Truelove proposal.

KEY

Blue: Housing
Green: Elderly Residents Village
Light Gray: Community Centre
Dark Gray: Medical Centre

Risks of village flooding discussed on LincsFM

Giles McNeill has today been interviewed by Andy Marsh of LincsFM about the flooding of Nettleham earlier in the year.

Talking about the floods in Nettleham and in the broader context of the Sir Michael Pitt's report (available here) into flooding, Giles McNeill said:

"At all levels we need to take seriously the problem of flooding. Sir Michael's report highlight's the urgency with which this matter needs to be treated. I am happy to have supported Nettleham Parish Council's own investigations into the summer floods since they occured."

"It is my attention to meet with colleagues on Lincoln City Council to discuss the concerns local residents have of further development upstream."

The interview is being played during hourly news bulletins. click here to connect to LincsFM.

Flooding in Nettleham Village Report

Today a report, produced by Faber Maunsell, was published regarding the summer flooding in Nettleham. It is an important document that is due for discussion at an open meeting of the Parish Council on Wednesday 30th January 2007 at 7:30pm in the Large Hall of the Old School.

Giles McNeill said:

"I am happy today to see that the report, commissioned by the Parish Council in Spetember, following the summer floods, has been Published."

"I do hope that this, clearly excellent, report will provide the building blocks for ensuring that we protect Nettleham from risks caused by future development and produce tangiable results which will reduce the risk of this kind of flooding happening again. I hope that a good number of villagers, together with the Environment Agency, Lincoln City Council. Lincolnshire County Council, West Lindsey District Council and Anglian Water will all take note."

The report is available from the Parish Council's website. Click here.