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.

Two Solar Farms Refused Planning Permission by West Lindsey District Council

West Lindsey District Council's Planning Committee has rejected two applications for solar farms between Burton and Riseholme following representations of planning grounds for refusal by local residents.

Protestors from Riseholme, Burton and South Carlton outside
the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough

The two farms, allocated to agricultural land between the villages of Burton and Riseholme, were previously deferred so that the applicants could satisfy concerns over whether the sequential test had been met - meaning the the applicant had chosen the site for the best possible reasons.

The first application by AEE proposed a 42 ha site comprised of two separate elements off the B1398 around Burton by Lincoln village and the A15; whilst a second application by RGE Energy was for the construction of a farm on land off Middle Street, Burton-by-Lincoln.

Numerous residents from Burton and South Carlton (in the Saxilby ward) together with residents from Riseholme (in the Nettleham ward) attended the planning meeting on Wednesday, 12th November 2014 at the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough. Prior to the commencement of the meeting the group protested with placards, demanding the refusal of the schemes.

Both planning applications were refused by the council.

Cllr. Giles McNeill, who represents the Nettleham Ward, and who seconded refusal of the first application and proposed refusal of the second said:

“Both applications have been refused due to incongruency with the saved Local Plan policies STRAT 12 (Development in the open countryside) and STRAT 13 (undeveloped breaks between settlements and green wedges around Lincoln). We also considered the National Planning Policy Guidance issued in March, earlier this year related to ground-mounted solar photovoltaic farms. 

“Whilst I am all in favour of reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, building a low carbon economy, to protect our global environment - I must have regard to planning policies, and in my view these proposals did not accord with the substantive weight the committee felt should be placed on maintaining the green wedge, and the distinctive breaks between settlements.”

Before the meeting, the group argued that while they were not against the idea of solar power, it was the positioning of the two farms that they disagreed with. Mr. Bill Maris, who farms at South Carlton, said:

“I farm the land near to where the solar scheme is proposed. I’ve just had my soil analysed and some of my land is grade one and it’s certainly all grade two.

“A lot of the land that is proposed for this site will also definitely be grade two and some of it will be grade one.

“I don’t object to solar, I object to it going on good, agricultural land. It should be used for farming and there are many alternatives to energy but there is only one place you can produce food, and that’s on land.

“I suppose to the farmer that is renting the land it’s easy money if you’re offered a thousand pounds an acre for 25 years.”

Local resident Mrs. Sue North said:

 “We are not opposed to solar energy, what we are opposed to is where the farms are proposed for. These farms are on what’s called the green wedge, which was given that status by West Lindsey District Council to separate the countryside from the town.

“The two farms, which we have to look at together because they are side by side, would create a tunnel for the old coach road that people walk through.”

Mrs. Alison Richards added:

“For a lot of people the historic coach road, which is mentioned in the Domesday book, is a recreational route for a lot of people in the area; walkers, cyclists, horse riders and a lot of families use it.

“For many it’s the only route for people to the north of Lincoln without trespassing on a field.”

Mrs. Desiree Applewhite said:

“It might only be a temporary twenty-five years slot but it would ruin an amenity for a generation. There are plenty of other brownfield sites which can be used, such as disused airfields.”

Cllr. Giles McNeill Supports Nettleham Cricket Club

 Nettleham Cricket Club has been bowled over thanks to funding batted over to them.

Junior Members of Nettleham Cricket Club
with Cllr. Giles McNeill who represents the
Nettleham ward.

Cllr. Giles McNeill donated £750 from his Councillor Initiative Fund to resurface the club's worm areas of carpet and practice nets.

Players aged from six to sixty will benefit from the refurbishment, which should keep the club in the Lincolnshire League Premier Division.

The Councillor Initiative Fund is available to all 37 district councillors, who have been allocated £4,000 each to spend over two years on projects in their ward. In March the Council announced an extra £37,000 for the fund in the budget - meaning each councillor will get an extra £1,000 to support community projects.

Cllr. McNeill, who was thrilled to be able to give his support, said:

"I am really pleased to help with the overhaul of the practice nets at Mulsanne Park in Nettleham.

"I am sure they will be well used and help local cricket continue to flourish."

A senior member of the Club, Mr. David Wheatley, added:

"We are very appreciative of this generous assistance which will give new life to the areas as they are used continuously throughout the summer months.

"The wear on the carpets was significant, so we are delighted we have been able to repair the worst areas. It means we'll get several more years life before they have to be fully replaced."

If you are interested in getting involved with Nettleham Cricket Club, telephone Lousie Bromfield on 07526 539072 for more information.

New Year's Message

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world."

It is these words of Yeats that perhaps, for me, sum up the year.

I would like to wish everyone who lives in Greetwell, Grange-de-Lings, Nettleham and Riseholme – the people that I represent on West Lindsey District Council – my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.

West Lindsey District Council sadly lost three of its members in 2013.  The Elswitha Report demonstrated how close the authority came to being in very hot water. Nevertheless, swift action by competent officers averted disaster. As a new member of the council I am determined to ensure that lessons are learned and mistakes are not repeated.

In the Nettleham Ward we have had a mixed year. There was bad news for local library users. Good news for Greetwell as new leadership on the parish council brought fresh efforts to bring the community together. And disgruntlement in Riseholme as the University of Lincoln served notice on Bishop Burton College that they would not be renewing the lease creating an uncertain future.

I have had a busy year, my appointment as the Conservative Group's Chief Whip means I have been busy keeping seats filled on committees and on occasion attending committees on which I am not a regular member as a substitute. This is helping me understand more fully how this district council functions.

I was also very proud to be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Governance and Audit Committee. I think that Accountant, Cllr. Mrs. Sue Rawlins and I, with my background in political theory make an excellent and complimentary team heading up this committee. It has been a hard year. The Authority's rating for governance was rated red by our internal auditor and this means we must improve. These things take time, especially as they require cultural change in the attitudes of people. I hope to see some immediate progress on the balance of power between councillors and officers redressed early in the coming year.

One of the highlights of the year was Nettleham's victory, once again, in the Lincolnshire Best Kept Village competition. As a member of Nettleham Parish Council, who enter the village in the competition, and take great pride in ensuring that Nettleham overall is maintained to a high standard, I am pleased that our community's hard-work was recognised.

In May I was very pleased that Conservative County Councillor for the Nettleham & Saxilby Division Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway, was successfully re-elected. In tough conditions Jackie managed to both increase her majority in percentage and numerical terms, which is an impressive achievement.

I have been able throughout the year to support a number of local projects through my Councillor Initiative Fund. I have supplied monies for equipment and repairs for Nettleham Cricket Club, photographic equipment for the children of Nettleham Infants School, funding to support the new Greetwell Get-togethers which are helping to make Greetwell more of a community and assisted in the purchase of a HD projector unit for the clubhouse at Lindum Rugby Club on Lodge Lane.

In April is was really please to join Jackie and a team of local volunteers from Greetwell with a 'Spring Clean' littler pick in North Greetwell along the A158.

I am genuinely distressed that the vacated Linelands site in Nettleham remains boarded up - I pass it almost everyday when walking into the village centre. I had expected to hear that progress was being made in finding a private developer to redevelop the site into a new elderly 'extra care' home. I plan to continue to make representations to the County Council demanding that action is taken to bring the site back into use.

I know that 2014 will have more challenges ahead and action will be needed to solve the issues we face. Nevertheless I feel a renewed sense of optimism is beginning to percolate through our nation and soon, I hope, everyone will begin to feel the benefit.

For each and all I offer my sincere wish for health, prosperity and happiness.

Giles McNeill
Working hard for the Nettleham Ward

North Greetwell Community Comes Together for Litter Pick

The local community in North Greetwell came together on Saturday, 6th April for a ‘Spring Clean’ litter picking session.

Eighteen volunteers turned out early on the cool, slightly breezy morning to pick litter and debris from the road side, along the A158, which runs through the community from Lincoln to Skegness.  

The litter pick was organised by Greetwell Parish Councillor Sarah Bates with help from West Lindsey District Council’s Street Cleaning Team, who provided latex gloves, litter picking grips, waste disposal bags and organise collection and disposal of the waste that gets collected.

West Lindsey District Councillor, Giles McNeill, who represents the Nettleham Ward, which includes the parish of Greetwell, said:

“It is really great to see a good number of people turning out and volunteering for this. I was mucking in with our County Councillor, Jackie Brockway, picking up plenty of cigarette butts and then later larger items of general litter.

“There were all sorts of litter to be picked up, mainly stuff from the carriageway, empty cartons, bottles, sweet and crisp packets, cigarette stubbs and tabacco packets as well as a number of more unusual items like an estate agents board and a stray sand bag.”

If you would like to organise a community litter pick in your area you can contact West Lindsey’s Customer Service Team on 01427 676676 or e-mail customer.services@west-lindsey.gov.uk.

Details Emerge of Future for Linelands

A new facility for older people in Lincolnshire is set to be built in the county, providing what many view as the ‘future of care’.

Council land in Nettleham is to be developed into extra care housing, which offers an alternative to residential care for those still able to maintain their independence.

The site will be made up of self-contained dwellings, meaning residents will be able to live in their own home, with access to round-the-clock on-site support if they need it.

As well as developing the Nettleham site, the council will be investing more than £2.5m into extra care housing across the county between now and the end of 2014/15.

West Lindsey District Councillor, Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward) welcomed the development saying:

"Since it became clear that it was no longer an option for the County Council to be providing care facilities, like Linelands, in Nettleham, directly; I have campaigned vigourously for the site to be utilised for the provision of care for the elderly.

"I am really pleased that plans are now moving forward rapidly to make new provision available, I look forward to seeing full plans in the near future."

Budget 2013: Local Councillor Welcomes Tax Cutting Measures

West Lindsey District Councillor Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward) has welcomed the 2013 Budget delivered by Chancellor George Osbourne, particularly the bold set of tax cuts announced for businesses and employers in West Lindsey.

A new Employment Allowance will take £2,000 off the National Insurance bill of every employer – open to businesses, charities and community amateur sports clubs. This will help 60,000 employers in the East Midlands, taking 30,000 out of having to pay any tax on jobs at all.

 Employers will be able to hire one extra person on £22,400 a year, or four people working full time on the minimum wage, without paying any National Insurance.

A further corporation tax cut to 20 per cent in April 2015 will see the UK having the lowest corporation tax rate in the G20, which sends a clear signal that Britain is open for business. 

Stamp Duty on shares in companies quoted on growth markets like AIM and the ISDX Growth Market has also been abolished. This will benefit around 1,000 UK quoted companies – a transaction tax removed here as 11 EU countries are looking to introduce a sweeping financial transaction tax. 

Cllr. McNeill commented:

“This is fantastic news for businesses in the Nettleham Ward and across West Lindsey. The Employment Allowance will make it easier and cheaper for firms to hire people – an employer could hire four people working full time on the minimum wage without paying any National Insurance.  

“These and the other business measures in the Budget are exactly what businesses need to hire, to expand and to grow.”

The amount people can earn before paying income tax - the personal allowance - will rise to £10,000 in April 2014.

Hard working people in Nettleham, Greetwell, Riseholme and Grange-de-Lings will be over £700 better off every year than when this Government came to office. Almost three million more of the lowest paid will pay no income tax at all.

This tax cut will benefit an estimated 35,874 people in the Gainsborough constituency. In April 2014, 430 people will be lifted out of income tax, taking the total number of people in the Gainsborough constituency lifted out of tax by Conservatives to an 4,079.

Labour want to reintroduce the 10p tax band that they abolished. Conservatives in Government have now turned Labour’s 10p tax band into a zero pence tax band. Every person paying tax at the 10p rate when Labour doubled it, will now be paying no income tax at all on that income.

Cllr. McNeill commented:

“This Budget has delivered real support for people who aspire to work hard and get on. Around 2,000 people in the Nettleham Ward will be over £700 better off every year. With this landmark tax cut, Conservatives have cut tax bills for 24 million people”.

The Government will also make ex-gratia payments of £5,000 to Equitable Life policyholders who bought their annuity before 1992, the Chancellor has revealed in his budget statement.

The Government will also make an extra £5,000 available to those on the lowest incomes who are on pension credit. There is no legal obligation to make either of these payments.

Cllr. McNeill welcomed the news, saying:

“I am proud that two years ago Conservatives in Government set aside £1.5 billion to help so many of my constituents who had been let down when Equitable Life failed.

“Now we are helping another 9,000 people across the country.

“It took nearly a decade for the last Labour Government to own up to their responsibilities. We acted immediately. This will make a huge difference to the many older people who were affected in the Nettleham Ward and across West Lindsey.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has cancelled Labour’s planned fuel duty rise in the Budget, saving 2.7 million motorists in the East Midlands over £170 every year.

Because of the action we have taken, pump prices will now be 13 pence per litre lower than if Labour were in power. For a Vauxhall Astra that is £7 less every time families fill up the tank – or £9 less for a Mondeo. A van driver will save £340 per year and a haulier will save £5,200 per year.

Fuel duty will now have been frozen for nearly three and half years - the longest freeze in duty for over 20 years.

Cllr. McNeill welcomed the news, saying:

“This is a Budget that is delivering for families who want to work hard and get on in life.

 “Scrapping another of Labour’s planned fuel duty increases will make a huge difference to the 2.7 million drivers in the East Midlands region.

“This Government has frozen fuel duty for three and a half years - longer than any Government in the last two decades - and saving the average family £7 every time they fill up their car.”

Particularly welcome was the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing he would scrap Labour’s planned increase in beer duty, and instead, go further, cutting the duty by a penny, meaning beer will be 1p per pint cheaper after Sunday night – 4p per pint cheaper than it would have been under Labour.

Cllr. McNeill welcomed the news, saying:

“Labour increased beer duty by sixty per cent and left our pubs fighting for survival. Nettleham is fortunate to have four pubs – the Brown Cow, The Black Horse, The Plough and the White Hart.

“We’ve not only scrapped Labour’s planned increase – we’ve actually cut it.

“It is great news for beer-drinkers, it is great for breweries, and it’s great for 4,525 pubs across the East Midlands.”

Local Conservatives Support Parish Council's Get-Together

Nettleham Ward District Councillor Giles McNeill and Nettleham & Saxilby Division County Councillor Jackie Brockway, have used funds from their respective authorities to support Greetwell Parish Council's initiative of holding get-togethers in the MaCh resturant on Wragby Road in North Greetwell, to help improve the areas sense of community.

Cllr. Giles McNeill said:

"It is really important to build a sence of community, particularly in a parish like Greetwell, which has fragmented constituenct parts to it. These get-togethers go some way in helping local people get to know one another.

"These events also help by providing an opportunity for groups that may feel isolated to socialise in their locality, such as the elderly.

"I am really proud that Jackie and I have been able to find funding to help secure the future of these events in the coming months."

Chris Myers, the Clerk of Greetwell Parish Council, commenting following the news that £500 had been forthcoming from the West Lindsey Councillors Initiative Fund, said:

"This is really good news, as along with Jackie’s contribution we can cover the costs for the next year of events."

West Lindsey District Councillors have a pot of £2,000 to spend on local projects within their communities for the next two year - known as the Councillor Initiative Fund. Lincolnshire County Councillors have their own scheme, known as the Big Society Fund, which previosously was a pot of £4,000 available between 2011 and March 2013. The scheme is understood to have been renewed.

Local Councillor Obtains £500 Grant for Nettleham Cricket Club

District Councillor Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward), has obtained £500 from the West Lindsey's Councillor Initiative Fund to help Nettleham Cricket Club with repairs and improvement of the two practice nets located at Mulsanne Park, Nettleham.

Cllr. McNeill commented:

"As Chairman of the Mulsanne Park Users Committee I am fully aware of the important role that Nettleham Cricket Club plays in getting children of all ages and adults involved in playing sport. 

"It is important that monies which are available at district level are drawn down to our communities."

Local Cricket Club Receives £250 CAV Grant

Nettleham Cricket Club have successfully applied for £250 from West Lindsey District Council's Community Action and Volunteering Fund (CAV), administered by Community Lincs, to purchase equipment to improve the quality of the pitch.

The Club was anxious to maintain the quality of the playing surface at Mulsanne Park, Nettleham and provide the best possible pitch. Current the club uses a scarifier to achieve an even bounce, the current equipment has blades that gently slice the pitch, but they recieved advice that they need blades which would also control and remove thatch.

In all 48 new blades will be fitted during March 2013 in readiness for the new season. The total cost is £285 with the CAV fund providing nearly 88% of the cash with the Club picking up the rest of the bill.

The change is expected to enable players to reacher higher standards in the sport, the improved surface will also lead to more consitent bounce, imporving safety.
Cllr. Giles McNeill, Conservative (Nettleham Ward) said:

"I am thrilled that Nettleham Cricket Club have been awarded this money from the Community Action and Vounteering Fund. As chairman of Nettleham Parish Council's Mulsanne Park Users Committee I have been urging the local clubs to apply for grants available at West Lindsey.

"I have also signed off an application by the club for support from the Councillors Initiative Fund for £500 to help with improving the practice nets. I am hopeful that they will meet the criteria for an award to be made."

Forty New Jobs Created in Nettleham

Complaint Handling Services, in Nettleham, wants to take on more claims advisors to more than double its workforce.

Staff at Deepdale Enterprise Park in Nettleham

Picture: Anne Draper

The new recruits will help customers claim money back from banks that have mis-sold payment protection insurance.

All the positions will come with permanent, full-time contracts, although the company could take on some part time staff.

Ms. Aily Slade, Human Resources officer at the firm, said the business had been impressed with the skills of workers in the Lincoln area since the branch opened last June. She said:

"We're recruiting in Lincoln because we have found the quality of candidates is higher here than in other areas and bigger cities.

"We've found people are very friendly here and there's a good community spirit, and that's what we're all about.

"There's also a better level of qualifications in Lincoln.

"Whether it's GCSEs or up to degree level, it just seems to be a good area for it."

Claims advisors can earn between £13,000 and £17,000 a year on a basic salary. However, the firm says there is potential for people to earn up to £2,000 a month extra in bonuses. There are thirty people working at the company in Nettleham, with a similar number working in the original office in Altrincham, in Greater Manchester. Although the Altrincham branch opened in 2010, the firm has chosen to expand in Lincolnshire. Ms Slade added:

"We get a better application rate here in Lincoln too, although Altrincham is in a bigger area.

"There's also not as much competition in this area from other call centres."

The firm offers a variety of incentives for good results and last year took a group of the top workers to Las Vegas. Ms. Slade said she was looking for people with some previous experience in a similar job.

"We're looking for people with sales experience, some personality and who are able to gain a rapport with people – someone with a bit about them."

Current claims advisor Mr. Dan Pounds, joined the firm last June. He said:

"It ticks the ethical box for me really. 

"The money is out there and the banks are holding on to it, so it's about getting the money to the people that deserve it. 

"The company is also good at training people so they can progress through the company."

To apply, e-mail a Cirriculum Vitae to Ms Slade at aily.slade@complainthandlingservices.co.uk

Double Victory for Conservatives in Local By-Election Contests

Local conservatives have celebrated a double, landslide success in two by-elections held for the Nettleham and Saxilby Division of Lincolnshire County Council and the Nettleham Ward of West Lindsey District Council.

Jackie Brockway, Conservative, triumphed in the Lincolnshire County Council contest while colleage Giles McNell won for the Conservatives a seat on West Lindsey District Council. The seats have not been in Conservative hands since 1981 and 1983 respectively


Nettleham & Saxilby Division Result

 Nettleham and Saxilby Division
Lincolnshire County Council

Jackie Brockway, Conservative - 1,026 (43.36%)
Charles Shaw, Liberal Demcrat - 600 (25.36%)
Howard Thompson, UKIP - 266 (11.24%)
Richard Coupland, Labour - 257 (10.86%)
David Watson, Lincolnshire Independent - 196 (8.28%)
Elliott Fountain, English Democrat - 21 (0.89%)
Turnout: 2,378 (27.98%)

Swing: 22.2% from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives



Nettleham Ward Result

Nettleham Ward

West Lindsey District Council

Giles McNeill, Conservative -565 (45.02%)
Guy Grainger, Liberal Demcrat - 513 (40.88%)
Howard Thompson, UKIP - 177 (14.10%)

Turnout: 1,270 (31.63%)

Swing: 15.3% from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives

Edward Leigh MP Visits Nettleham Garderners Association Show

Above: (from left to right) Jackie Brockway, Giles McNeill
and Edward Leigh MP

Edward Leigh MP visited Nettleham Gardeners Association Show at Nettleham Village Hall yesterday to see the produce on show and support Conservative candidates Giles McNeill and Jackie Brockway, who are running locally for seats on West Lindsey District and Lincolnshire County Councils respectively. 

Weather in recent months have caused problems for gardeners. Following the freeze of winter, came the water shortages and hosepipe bans of spring, as the ban came into force on Thursday, 5th April  it did so, with perfect irony, with rain, rain and more rain - in fact the wettest summer on record.

Most gardeners will have shrugged and got on with sowing seeds and planting potatoes, but the relentlessness of the deluge meant early sowings failed, potatoes rotted in the ground and plants produced stunted roots in saturated soil. Conditions including low soil temperatures and lower light levels meant only the hardiest of crops made progress. Plants needing good light outdoors, such as beans and sweetcorn struggled. Tomatoes being grown under glass ripened weeks late.

Nevertheless a good crop of vegetables were entered for inspection. Cakes too and artwork also featured. Everyone involved had put in considerable effort to participate in spite of the difficult conditions.

In Two Local By-Elections Only the Conservative Candidates Live in the Communities they will Represent

Local Team: Jackie Brockway and Giles McNeill are the
only candidates in the two by-elections to live in the area
they will represent.

Local residents are surprised to learn that only the Conservative Party is fielding local candidates in two contests called following the sad and untimely death of Cllr. Ray Sellars who represented the Nettleham and Saxilby Division of Lincolnshire County Council and Nettleham Ward on West Lindsey District Council. 

For the county council seat, Jackie Brockway (Conservative), lives over the road from the doctors’ surgery in Saxilby. Of the other candidates in the county contest three are from the City of Lincoln, Richard Coupland (Labour) lives on the Ermine West Estate, Charles Shaw (Liberal Democrat) resides off Carholme Road and David Watson (Lincolnshire Independent) is based off Skellingthorpe Road. Howard Thompson (UK Independence Party) lives twenty-five miles away from the Conservative Candidate in Claxby, between Market Rasen and Caistor. Finally the furthest flung candidate, Elliott Fountain (English Democrat), is based forty miles away from County Hall in Boston.

However, it is not just in the county council seat contest where the Conservatives have fielded the only local candidate, in the contest for the district council seat too, for the Nettleham Ward, Giles McNeill (Conservative), went to primary school in the village, has grown up in Nettleham and lived in the village behind the Infants' School for more than two decades. Guy Grainger (Liberal Democrat) is from Market Rasen and Howard Thompson (UK Independence Party), previously mentioned, from even further away, will contest this seat as well.

The Liberal Democrats have a consistently highlighted the view that elected councillors should live in the local communities they seek to represent. In 2011 they made it clear that, because one of the four candidates lived in Market Rasen, voters should vote for local candidates:

"You can’t do better than to vote for two Councillors who have an excellent record of hard work for the village and who both actually live in Nettleham".

Now they have the audacity to put forward an individual who is from Market Rasen!

If a candidate from Market Rasen, in their view, by virtue of where they live, was not suitable last year, why would one be suitable now? It seems to be nothing short of hypocrisy.

One Nettleham villager commented:

"I can not believe that someone from outside the village would make a good representative for us. Especially if they live as far away as Market Rasen, or beyond."

There has also been concern that Mr. Grainger, a former Market Rasen Town Councillor, was censured in 2010 by the Standards Committee at West Lindsey District Council. The Decision Notice read that:

"[Mr. Grainger] failed to declare a personal and prejudicial interest when considering the Town Council’s response to the former Town Clerk’s claim to an Employment Tribunal… The sanction imposed for this breach is that Councillor Grainger be censured."

Hopefully the residents of Nettleham, Grange-de-Lings, Riseholme and Greetwell will vote wisely on Thursday, 6th September 2012.

Olympics Boost to East Midlands' Economy

The last fortnight has seen an outstanding performance by Team GB and celebration of their success across the country. However, these Games could not have happened without the hard work of suppliers across the country and new figures show that The Olympics have delivered nearly £7 billion of contracts across the UK.

The figures show that forty-four suppliers in the East Midlands have benefited from contracts worth £275million, boosting the economy, jobs and growth in the area.

Giles McNeill, Conservative By-Election Candidate for the Nettleham Ward, said:

“Not only have the Olympics shown the best of Britain, the Games have delivered £275million of contracts to the East Midlands’ economy.

“It is fantastic news that forty-four suppliers from across the region have contributed to making the Olympics the huge success they have been.

“Now we need to continue to work hard to make sure this Olympics legacy boosts the economy, tourism and participation in sports in the years ahead.”

Work on the iconic Olympic Stadium has brought huge benefits to firms in Lincolnshire. Tarmac PreCast Concrete Ltd. of Stamford has provided precast concrete for the terracing. Sidebbottom Richardson Cheng Ltd. of Spalding took on six new members of staff to help with stadium engeneering design work. Meanwhile William Hare Painting of Grantham were contracted to paint the 6,000 tonnes of steelwork at the stadium. Smith Construction (Heckington) Ltd. won the contract to build the £1.6m athletes' drop-off point and warm-up track, connected to the main stadium.

Cllr. Ray Sellars Has Passed Away

Cllr. Ray Sellars, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward and Nettleham & Saxilby Division) passed away yesterday, following a battle with cancer. He is survived by his widow June, his children; Anita, Wendy and Mark and step-children Pauline and Debbie. The flag at the Old School, Mill Hill, Nettleham is being flown at half mast as a mark of respect.

Cllr. Sellars' funeral service will take place at 10.45am at All Saints Church, Nettlehamon Wednesday, 18th July 2012. This will be followed by a private family cremation at the crematorium.

The Family request family flowers only, but donations can be made to Marie Curie or St Barnabas through the undertakers Co-operative Funeral Services, 11 Proctors Road, Lincoln LN2 4LA. Telephone 01522 535800.

Liberal Democrat's Attendance at Meetings Slumps to New Low

Cllr. Malcolm Leaning, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward), a Nettleham Parish Councillor, is revealed to be the poorest attending member of Nettleham Parish Council.

Cllr. Leaning, has been ranked as the poorest attending member of Nettleham Parish Council in figures attached to the  Chairman's Annual Report. Cllr. Leaning - who is both a district and parish councillor - is known to enjoy extensive holidays away from representing his constituents. This has lead to a slump in the number of meetings he has managed to attend.

In the third year running, figures showing the attendance of Nettleham's Parish Councillors have been attached to the Chairman's Annual Report. On average Cllr. Leaning's colleagues attended between 82%-97% of their meetings.  It would be remiss not to mention that Cllr. Leaning, having both district and parish roles, will potentially have diary conflicts; but such a low figure of attendance brings in to question the viability of fulling the expectations of  local residents to do both functions properly. The wards second district councillor and county councillor, Cllr. Ray Sellars, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward and Nettleham & Saxilby Division), has sensibly not re-joined Nettleham Parish Council after stepping down in 2010 - but even he managed an attendance figure of 69% that year. The county council also meets during the daytime, whilst the district council in the evening.

Cllr. Leaning's figure is even more surprising when considering that his presence was only required at the 13 Full Council Meetings (of which he managed to attend 7). Other councillors take on significant additional roles and contribute hundreds of hours a year to help the village. The parish council's Deputy Chairman, Cllr. Mrs. Janice Clayton, was expected to attend 30 meetings during 2011-12, achieving a 97% attendance rate. Meanwhile, Cllr. Alf Frith, who was expected to attend 20 meetings during 2011-12, achieved a 90% attendance rate.

Cllr. Leaning hasn't attended a single meeting since the start of the year and was notably absent from the meeting held on Tuesday, 20th March 2012 - when many villagers turned out to express there concerns over controversial plans to develop a 'custody suite' at Nettleham Police Headquarters. Local residents can only hope that Cllr. Leaning will make an effort to improve his attendance.

Stagecoach Should Explain Decision to Reduce Bus Services

Edward Leigh MP has called on Stagecoach Lincolnshire to explain to local people the company’s decision to cut services along the number 3 route from Lincoln to Grimsby, which serves Nettleham, Dunholme and Welton.

Our local Member of Parliament, has responded to the significant change to the Number 3 service from Monday 2 April 2012. Which will include the loss of an hourly connecting bus service between the south east and north east of the Gainsborough Constituency during the daytime. Through journeys will now end during the middle part of the day with the last through departures from Lincoln and Grimby at 8:40am and not resuming until 1:40pm.

Stagecoach have admitted that they are eliminating less economical services because of the Department of Transport’s twenty percent reduction in the Bus Service Operators Grant, equivalent to an additional 39p to the cost of a gallon of diesel. But talk of local authority intervention might be overly optimistic, given the £1.3m savings to the county transport budget and the need to find £125m in savings to put the County Council budget on an even keel. Edward Leigh said:

"I am relieved that the cut to the Number 3 service won’t be as deep as originally proposed, but it is still regretful that those who will need to travel outside the peak period will have their options severely curtailed. 

"In rural parts of the country such as ours, providing connections by regular public transport is challenging, but important. I’m not convinced Stagecoach have made a proper case for curtailing the Number 3 service. This follows from their cuts to Sunday and Bank Holiday services from last year.

"This situation is the responsibility of the bus company, and I hope they find more imaginative ways of responding to public demand. They can’t solve their problems simply by demanding subsidies from taxpayers who are hard-pressed to make end’s meet already. All this underlines the overriding importance of cutting the vast deficit we have inherited from the previous government."

Roger Helmer's Defection: Man Overboard

Giles McNeill writes:

Anyone who knows Roger Helmer, knows that Roger was always firmly on the right-wing of the Conservative Party.  Roger’s view was clear on the European Union: Britian would be better off out.

When Roger was the guest speaker at the Nettleham & District Conservatives Annual Branch Dinner in 2008 he was preparing for re-election as a Conservative candidate in elections in 2009. We talked together for some time, even getting into the intricacies of the D'Hont Method used for the Election of European Parliamentarians from Britain and associated territories - which I found absolutely fascinating, and imagine would render most people bored senseless. Roger has a degree in Mathematics and so the number crunching may have appealed on an intellectual level if not as a satisfactory way of election individuals.

The saga of Roger’s resignation, which has led to his defection to the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), began last year when he indicated he wanted to resign to give his successor a chance to be run-in before the European Parliamentary Election scheduled for 2014.  As Roger writes, in an open letter to Conservative Party Members:

Giles McNeill (Left) with Roger Helmer
(Right), October 2008

“I have always argued that a parliamentarian who finds himself no longer able to support the Party should stand aside in favour of another Conservative, and I have roundly criticised former colleagues who failed to do so, like Bill Newton Dunn and Edward McMillan Scott.  But in this case, as you will be aware, I sought in good faith to do the honourable thing, and to resign in favour of the next-in-line Conservative, Rupert Matthews.  Indeed in October I announced my intention to resign at the end of 2011.  But that plan was frustrated by the deliberate obstinacy and recalcitrance of the Party Chairman.

“I wrote to Baroness Warsi in early January saying that I would not resign without a clear undertaking on the succession issue.  I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received.  In these circumstances I believe that I have fulfilled my obligation to the Party, so far as I am able, and I therefore withdraw my offer to resign.   I had made it clear to Baroness Warsi that I would not allow the stand-off to continue indefinitely, so I will now plan to serve out my current term until 2014.  

“By seeking to do what I took to be the decent thing, and offering to stand aside in favour of another Conservative, I hope at least that I shall retain the respect of Party members in the region.  They have selected and reselected me three times over the years, and I know that for the most part their views are closer to my own than to those of the Party leadership.”

Police Announce Custody Suite Plans

In what has been a fairly badly kept secret locally Lincolnshire Police have announced that a new multi-million pound police station could be built in Nettleham.

An artists impression of the new facility.

The news comes after private security firm G4S was awarded a £200 million contract to provide a host of services to Lincolnshire Police. As part of the deal, G4S would build and run a new state-of-the-art police station.

It is understood that the force's preferred site for the development would be at its existing headquarters in Nettleham, north of Lincoln. In addition, older stations around the county could be replaced.

The project is expected save Lincolnshire Police Authority an estimated £28 million and an eco-friendly design will cut running costs by £5 million over the next ten years.

The 30-cell station, based on a hub-and-spoke design, would house up to 120 staff. It would also be extendable in the event of major incidents or anticipated peaks in arrests and is expected to account for a 'major proportion' of the savings, said G4S.

A formal decision on where the new station will be has not been made. Lincolnshire Police Authority spokesman Alan Hardwick said:

"The chairman of the authority has made it known the site that's favourably under consideration is actually at the headquarters site in Nettleham. 

"The next step is that G4S and ourselves will be preparing plans to go to West Lindsey District Council. 

"It's land we already own and subject to planning permission that's the preferred site. But we have not ruled out alternatives. 

"We are carrying out a review of our entire estate which also includes the south of the county. And we will look very critically at some of our older stations."

It is thought around 544 of nearly 900 full-time civilian employees in the authority could be affected by the deal.

From Sunday, 1st April 2012 G4S will be Lincolnshire Police Authority's partner for other services. This will cover areas such as human resources, information technology, fleet management, custody services and firearms licensing for at least the next ten years. Lincolnshire Police Authority chairman Mr. Barry Young said:

"G4S shares our values and our ambition to maintain and improve services. 

"Crucially, the new strategic partnership will also deliver significant infrastructure investment that will offset the budget reductions called for by the Government. I believe we are leading the way."

Ms Kim Challis, group managing director of G4S Government and Outsourcing Services, said:

"G4S is excited to be partnering with Lincolnshire Police in delivering this landmark programme. 

"We are particularly delighted to have the opportunity to implement many new innovations, such as our purpose-built Bridewell custody suites – the first of which will be completed within a year."