Meeting with Minister Provides Hope for Hawthorn Road Users

Sir Edward Leigh MP has welcomed assurances from the Rt. Hon. John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Transport, following a meeting with local county, district and parish councillors and representatives of the campaign to save Hawthorn Road from closure, about the scheme's funding from central government.

Above: (Left to Right) Mrs. Sally Lidbury, Mr. Peter Moore, a
civil servant, Rt. Hon. John Hayes MP, Minister for Transport,
and Sir Edward Leigh MP

Concern has been raised by local residents that the scheme, as currently proposed, will lead to the closure of Hawthorn Road in Greetwell, just prior to the boundary of the city of Lincoln, having a detrimental effect on the ability of local people to commute to and from Lincoln. The group protesting the closure does not question, nor oppose, the bypass. However, they consider the retention of the road, as a carriage way, essential.

One of the group's spokesmen, Mrs. Sally Lidbury, told the minister:

"Our objective is to seek support from the Department for Transport to facilitate a minor change to the current scheme. We are not here to ask for additional funding, or short-cuts in the policy process. We strongly support the Lincoln Eastern Bypass but object to the closure of Hawthorn Road. We feel that residents will be disproportionally disadvantaged as a result of the closure under current plans."

Following the meeting District Councillor Giles McNeill, who represents the parish of Greetwell where the proposed closure is designated to occur, said:

"I think Lincolnshire County Council have been unsure as to the security, after the end of the current financial year, of the £49.5million being supplied to the project by central government. The minister has been able to reiterate the assurances of the Secretary of State that the money - key to making this project happen - will not automatically disappear in March next year. I am confident that Lincolnshire County Council will want to be absolutely certain that the cost of retaining the use of the road for motor vehicles is not prohibitive, but would expect that a revision is now very much something the county council will want to pursue."

Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, who represents Cherry Willingham and Reepham, at Lincolnshire County Council, said:

"If the money is not going to vanish I can’t see why the county council will not engage with the local residents to see if an affordable option is open to them. The minister was able to point us in the direction of the Local Enterprise Partnership which has just got additional monies from central government, and may be able to support the marginal additional cost of a road bridge, estimated at around £100,000 on the £96million scheme."

Sir Edward Leigh MP said:

"This meeting has been very positive and productive. I welcome the minister's offer to help support the common sense of retaining the vehicular access on Hawthorn Road. I hope to work with Lincoln's Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney, to persuade Lincolnshire County Council to think again and make this minor change and am fully prepared to bid for money from the LEP."

The minister agreed to write to the county council to provide additional details regarding the funding arrangements.

West Lindsey’s Conservatives Dedicate Benches to Former Colleagues

Conservative Councillors on West Lindsey District Council have had two benches in Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough dedicated to the memory of former colleagues, Christopher Underwood-Frost and William Parry who both represented the Scotter Ward.

Double sadness struck last year when Cllr. Underwood-Frost lost his long-term battle with cancer in October and then a few weeks later, in December, Cllr. Parry also passed away.

Conservative Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Jeff Summers, paid tribute to both men saying:

“Both Chris and William were real gentlemen; Chris with his determination and courage to fight for what he believed in and William with his gentle patience and resolute nature. They are both missed very much by their colleagues on the Council.”

The Conservative Group on the Council wanted to ensure a memorial to the two councillors was in a public place. It was agreed that benches close to the Guildhall would be a fitting location and following consultation with the families two benches were identified near Next and a form of wording agreed for the plaques. Cllr. Giles McNeill, who was Agent for both men in their recent election campaigns said:

“I cannot think of a better site, nor a more fitting tribute to William and Chris. Both men were very different characters. I had the enormous privilege of knowing both of them, helping them with their re-election campaigns in recent years. We are diminished by their loss, but strengthened by their memory.”

EXCLUSIVE: West Lindsey Conservatives Elect Leadership

Above: Cllr. Burt Keimach
Below: Cllr. Ian Fleetwood

West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group met in a closed session last night for their Annual General Meeting at the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough and elected their leadership team for the coming civic year.

Re-elected as Group Leader was Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), who will doubtlessly become Leader of the Council at the meeting on Monday, 23rd May 2011. Cllr. Keimach said:

"I feel confident that we are a strong team able to achieve our aims."

In a tight contest for the group's deputy leadership incumbent Cllr. Mrs. Irmgard Parrott, Conservative (Cherry Willingham Ward) was eased out by Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Bardney Ward). Cllr. Keimach is still to appoint a Chief Whip. Other elections included Mr. Giles McNeill as Group Secretary and Mrs. Meg Davidson as the Group Treasurer.

The Group also discussed the Leader's appointment of the various Chairmen for the Council's main Committees which will be confirmed at the Annual Council Meeting. A further meeting will be held next week to determine representaions on outside bodies.

New 'Green Living' Homes in Bardney

An exciting opportunity to acquire new 'green' properties will be available this month.

The properties, off Wragby Road in Bardney, have solar panels already installed and are built by the Kier Partnership Homes division of the Kier Group in partnership with West Lindsey District Council and Acis Group.

This new development, known as Saxonwood, is offering 17 two and three bedroom houses for social rent and two two-bedroom houses on a rent to homebuy basis.

Housing, Renewal and Community Safety Service Manager Grant Lockett said:

"The properties are due to be completed and ready to move into by the end of March and will be managed Acis, a Registered Housing Provider.

"This is good news for the local people of Bardney, and it will help them to get a home and also get a start on the property ladder."

To qualify for one of these homes you need to be registered on the West Lindsey Housing Register and have a local connection to Bardney.

A local connection means you were either born in Bardney or you are a permanent resident now. If you used to live there but had to move away because of the lack of affordable housing or you are employed in Bardney, also qualifies you. If you live or have lived in one of the villages next to or close to Bardney, may also count.

For more details and information on how to register contact the Home Options Team at West Lindsey District Council on 01427 676676.

The comfortable and spacious properties comprise of an entrance hall, cloakroom, lounge, spacious kitchen/diner, useful storage, two or three bedrooms, family bathroom and an enclosed rear garden with shed.

The scheme was funded by a Social Housing Grant from the Homes and Communities Agency, a Government funding body for Registered Housing Providers (RHP) that supports investment; regeneration and the development of good urban and rural social housing.

West Lindsey District Council Leadership Contenders Emerge

West Lindsey District Council's ruling Conservative group were left leaderless after voters in the Market Rasen Ward kicked out the council's leader Adam Duguid, who had become the Conservative leader in January earlier this year.

Following a net gain of one seat in local elections the Conservatives now have the opportunity to select a new group leader who will ultimately become Leader of the Council, and are expected to do so at the Group's Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 20th May 2010.

The first names to emerge into fray are Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Bardney Ward) and Cllr. Chris Underwood-Frost, Conservative (Scottor Ward). Two men from opposite sides of the district - Scotter in the north-west and Bardney in the south-east.

Cllr. Fleetwood previously held the position of Conservative Group Leader at the authority and is also a Lincolnshire County Council member representing the Bardney and Cherry Willingham Division. In previous contests Cllr. Underwood Frost has also feature as a possible leadership figure.

Cllr. Burt Keimach, Deputy Leader under Adam Duguid's leadership is also expected to enter the leadership contest.

Cllr. Geoff Summers, Conservaitve (Middle Rasen Ward) and Cllr. Jeff Summers, Conservative (Waddingham & Spital Ward) are both expected to enter the race for Deputy Leader.

Search For Oil Continues In Fiskerton

The Lincolnshire Echo is reporting that drilling tests searching for oil under a disused RAF airfield in Lincolnshire have been allowed to continue.


Cirque Energy (UK) Limited has until Wednesday, 31st March 2011, to complete its investigations near Fiskerton after Lincolnshire County Council granted the company more time.
The energy business had been required to stop work at Fiskerton Airfield on March 31, 2010.

However, the search at the Reepham and Fiskerton No. 1 wells can proceed following a decision by the county council's planning and regulation committee.

Cirque Energy will be required to make a separate application if it finds oil and wants to expand operations.

Committee Chairman, Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Cherry Willingham & Fiskerton Division) is reported to have said:

"I have been to Fiskerton Parish Council meetings and they have not registered any issues with me."

Cllr. Fleetwood, who was re-elected as a West Lindsey District Councillor for the Bardney Ward, last week and added nodding donkeys had not been a campaign trail issue.

Temporary planning permission allowing one exploratory bore hole to be drilled was first granted in July 1997. This was extended further in March 1998 and in 2002 permission to allow oil production was given to Cirque Energy.
The nodding donkeys were later left unused for five years and work has just recently been carried out to prepare for future testing.
Ministry of Defence land manager, Defence Estates, and West Lindsey District Council made no objections to the application during the consultation period.

Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward) is reported to have said rising oil prices could make the business near the village 'economically viable' for its owners.

Conservatives Strengthen Control on West Lindsey District Council

The Conservatives have retained their grip on West Lindsey District Council, dispite coming second to the Liberal Democrats in the poll of twelve of the twenty five wards of the local authority.

Following today's local election result the composition of the authority is: Conservatives 21 seats, Liberal Democrats 14, Independents 1, Independents (unaligned) 1.

Before the election the Conservatives had 20 seats, the Liberal Democrats 13, there were 2 Independents, 1 Independent (unaligned) and one vacancy.

The Liberal Democrats polled 9,770 votes whilst the Conservatives polled 9,553. Despite this the Conservatives made a net gain of one.

Meanwhile, Labour had their best showing in a poll for West Lindsey District Council with 1,902 votes representing over 8% of the popular vote. The United Kingdom Independence Party also performed well, securing over one thousand votes in five contest across the district - their highest poll since the boundary changes of 1999.

Unfortunately, Leader of the Council since January, Mr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), lost his seat in a closely contested battle for the Market Rasen Ward. Town Mayor, Cllr. Ken Bridger, Liberal Democrat (Market Rasen Ward) won the seat. Conservatives were celebrating their win in the Hemswell Ward when Cllr. Paul Howitt-Cowan defeated Mr. Scott Pritchard.

In the closest contest of all, Cllr. Mrs. Heather Shore took the Scampton seat by just one vote from Conservative contender Mr. Roger Patterson.

Deputy Chairman (Political), Mr. Giles McNeill, of the Nettleham & District Branch, said:

"We are very pleased with this result. We have managed to hold all the district council seats in the branch area that had a contest, it is good to see Cllr. Ian Fleetwood (Bardney Ward), Cllr. Mrs. Irmgard Parrott (Cherry Willingham Ward) and Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson (Fiskerton Ward) all re-elected.

"We are also pleased with the result in the Nettleham Ward, despite it being retained by incumbent Liberal Democrat, Cllr. Alf Frith, local conservatives increased our poll of votes by 341, which is very positive, which represented a 3.2% swing to the Conservatives from the prevous contest for the seat."

Full results are:

• Bardney: Ian Fleetwood (Conservative) elected 604, Robert Smith (Liberal Democrat) 321, Sharon Spicer (United Kingdom Independence Party) 169. Turnout 66.53%
• Cherry Willingham: Irmgard Parrott (Conservative) elected 1,204, Brian Gulliver (Labour) 534, Steven Pearson (United Kingdom Independence Party) 143, Trevor Stephen (Liberal Democrat) 1018. Turnout 73.19%
• Fiskerton: Margaret Davidson (Conservative) 502, Christopher Darcel (Independent (non-aligned)) 240, Clare East (Liberal Democrat) 180, Carol Pearson (United Kingdom Independence Party) 129, Melanie Tointon (Labour) 154. Turnout 71.47%
• Gainsborough East: Melvyn Starkey (Liberal Democrat) 1,019 elected, Timothy Davies (Conservative) 597, Richard Doran (Labour) 606, Thomas Johnson (United Kingdom Independence Party) 224. Turnout 49.21%
• Gainsborough North: Thomas Brown (Liberal Democrat) 1,457 elected, Nigel Bowler (Labour) 608, Julian Myers (Conservative) 854. Turnout 55.78%
• Hemswell: Paul Howitt-Cowan (Conservative) 599 elected, Scott Pritchard (Liberal Democrat) 536, Anthony Wells (United Kingdom Independence Party) 113. Turnout 65.52
• Market Rasen: Ken Bridger (Liberal Democrat) 1,292 elected, Adam Duguid (Conservative) 1,120, Deborah Theobald (Independent Group) 276. Turnout 64.11%
• Nettleham: Alf Frith (Liberal Democrat) 1,763 elected, Giles McNeill (Conservative) 1,098. Turnout 75.83%
• Scampton: Heather Shore (Liberal Democrat) 815 elected, Roger Patterson (Conservative) 814. Turnout 71.6%
• Thonock: Lesley Rollings (Liberal Democrat) 889 elected, Keeley Henderson (Conservative) 592. Turnout 67.72%
• Waddingham and Spital: Jeffrey Summers (Conservative) 1,014 elected, John Beaver (United Kingdom Independence Party) 355. Turnout 72.61%
• Wold View: Thomas Regis (Conservative) 555 elected, David Kitchen (Liberal Democrat) 480, Bernard Theobald (Independent Group) 228. Turnout 65.56%

EXCLUSVE: Conservatives At West Lindsey Elect New Leadership Team

Update to 'Leadership Contest Final Furlong' and 'Leadership Contest Speculation Begins'

Cllr. Adam Duguid and Cllr. Burt Keimach, both representing the Market Rasen Ward have been elected by their Conservative peers to become Leader and Deputy Leader of the West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group. These two councillors will now, by convention, become Leader and Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council.

Conservatives met last Thursday evening and their decision will surprise readers of the Lincolnshire Echo, who had tipped Cllr. Ian Fleetwood (Bardney Ward) as frontrunner. Since Cllr. Theobald's resignation as the Council's Leader, Cllr. Duguid has been Acting Leader of West Lindsey District Council and served as Deputy Leader of the Council following the Conservatives' winning control in the 2008 local elections. It is understood that Cllr. Ian Fleetwood was made interim leader of the group.

Cllr. Keimach was first elected in May 2008, at the time Cllr. Duguid, commented:

"I am proud to welcome Burt as a member of the Market Rasen team. I know how committed he is to serving our local community through his service on Market Rasen Town Council."

It would have been difficult to forecast that Cllr Keimach would have emerged so quickly into a leadership position, speaing to the Lincolnshire Echo in mid-December Cllr Keimach said:

"We wanted someone with good political experience and all the qualities necessary for good leadership - lead by consensus and democracy rather than any other less inclusive qualities. We don't want anyone to take executive decisions."

Time will tell if this is the style adopted by the pair.

Two other Conservative councillors who were named as potential leadership candidates are now Chairmen of two important committees. Cllr. Chris Underwood-Frost (Scotter Ward) is now Chairman of the influential Planning Committee and it is understood that Cllr. Mrs. M. Davidson will become Chairman of the Organisation and Resources Committee.

At the request of the local Conservative Association this story was prepared on Friday, 15th Janaury 2010 and embargoed until 12:00noon on Monday, 18th January 2010.

Leadership Contest Final Furlong

Update to 'Leadership Contest Speculation Begins'.

The battle to become the Leader of the West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group will reach the finishing post today.

The West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group will meet this evening and elect a new Group Leader and Deputy Group Leader. These two councillors will then, by convention, become Leader and Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council, following the resignation or Cllr. Bernard Theobald (Wold View Ward) and Cllr. Adam Duguid (Market Rasen Ward) who, it is understood, is not contesting the Deputy Leadership.

Since Cllr. Theobald's suspention from the Conservative Party, preceded by his surprise resignation as the Council's Leader, Cllr. Adam Duguid has been Acting Leader of West Lindsey District Council, it is understood that Cllr. Ian Fleetwood was made interim leader of the group. Nominations for the post were to be recieved by the Agent yesterday and it is believed that both positions will be contested elections.

Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Bardney Ward), emerged as favourite to secure the top job. One member of the Conservative Group confided in me last week:

"We know, it's going to be Ian."

Cllr. Fleetwood previously held the position of Conservative Group Leader at the authority and is also a Lincolnshire County Council member representing the Bardney and Cherry Willingham Division.

The Lincolnshire Echo also suggested Councillors Lewis Strange, Conservative (Kelsey Ward), and Chris Underwood-Frost, Conservative (Scottor Ward), whilst I predicted that former Deputy Group Leader, Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward) and Chairman of the Council, Cllr. Mrs. Jessie Milne, Conservative (Lea Ward) might also be in contention.

There was some speculation that the Group may decide to have two Deputy Leaders of the Council, although the Group's constitution only allows for one Deputy Goup Leader. Based on conversations with Conservatives at West Lindsey it is thought that Cllr. Fleetwood's leadership style may not be too dissimilar to that of his predecessor Cllr. Theobald and so the likelihood of a triple leadership team seems to be receeding.

Leadership Contest Speculation Begins

The Lincolnshire Echo is reporting that A former Conservative Group Leader has emerged as the favourite to take control of the West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group. Apparently, sources described as 'close to the Echo' - whoever they are - have revealed that Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Bardney Ward), is the front runner to replace Cllr. Bernard Theobald (Wold View Ward) as the Leader of West Lindsey District Council.

Cllr. Fleetwood previously held the position of Conservative Group Leader at the authority and is also a Lincolnshire County Council member representing the Bardney and Cherry Willingham Division. The Lincolnshire Echo have clearly forgotton that whilst Cllr. Fleetwood may have once been a contender it is hard to fathom how, following the suspension of his driving licence for a drink-driving offence earlier in the year, he emerges as front runner. Cllr. Fleetwood also represents Lincolnshire on a number of committees at the European level and so is often out of the country.

The Lincolnshire Echo also suggest Councillors Lewis Strange, Conservative (Kelsey Ward), and Chris Underwood-Frost, Conservative (Scottor Ward), as also being considered for the top job.

Cllr. Strange, who is County Councillor for the Ancholme Cliff Division, is an unlikely choice following publicly defending the achievements of Cllr. Theobald leadership although he is genteel, personable and one of the longest serving members of the Conservative Group, it is unlikely that as a portfolio holder on Lincolnshire County Council he has the time to commit to also being leader a district authority.

Cllr. Underwood-Frost is certainly known to have some limited ambitions in direction of the leadership, he would likely make a good leader in the inter-rim but may lack a desire to steer the council in the long term.

According to the Lincolnshire Echo's report Acting Leader Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) and former Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association Chairman until March of this year, has ruled himself out of the running for the leadership but said he would continue as a 'caretaker' until a new appointment is made.

The paper omits a number of other likely contenders who would make good Group Leaders: Former Deputy Group Leader, Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward) and Chairman of the Council, Cllr. Mrs. Jessie Milne, Conservative (Lea Ward).

The Lincolnshire Echo suggest that a new leader could be confirmed at Monday's extraordinary council meeting or be left until the new year. I suspect that a Group Meeting will not select a new leader until after Tuesday, 22nd December 2009 and most likely not until the new year.

One change that is expected is to have two deputy leaders rather than the current system of just one. Following the Conservative Group's victory in the May 2008 local elections Cllr. Theobald was elected by the group as leader, Cllr. Mrs. Davidson was elected as Deputy Group Leader and Cllr. Theobald appointed Cllr. Duguid as Deputy Leader of the Council so having two deputies is not so unusual. If the leadership of the group changes there is also the possibility that other officers - such as the Chief Whip - may also be re-appointed.

The paper quotes Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen) as saying that an announcement would be made

"when the time is right".

"We have had a meeting about it and that is all I can say."

"We are satisfied with the progress made. We wanted someone with good political experience and all the qualities necessary for good leadership - lead by consensus and democracy rather than any other less inclusive qualities. We don't want anyone to take executive decisions."