New Year's Message

It is with continued pride that I serve and represent the people of Grange-de-Lings, Greetwell, Nettleham and Riseholme on West Lindsey District Council.

The obvious highlight of the year was the Royal visit in March to Nettleham of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. He came to officially open the Bishop’s Palace Site which Nettleham Parish Council has been working to make into an amenity area. If you haven’t visited the site yet, it is well worth taking a stroll through.

In February I was very pleased to act as Agent for Conservative candidate Mrs. Pat Mewis in a by-election to the Scotter ward of West Lindsey District Council. I am pleased to say that Pat and her team’s efforts secured victory for her and we welcomed her on to the council, early in the year.

The Conservative administration at West Lindsey, acutely aware that the benefits of growth and an improving economy are not being felt by everyone, once again froze our portion of the Council Tax.

I was surprised, pleased and delighted to be elevated to the Chairmanship of the Governance and Audit Committee at West Lindsey District Council in May; having previously been Vice-Chairman in the preceding year. I continued my role as the administration Chief Whip. 

If there has been one issue that has been most prominent in 2014 it has been planning. Be it new homes to be developed, the Lincoln Eastern By-Pass or Wind or Solar Farms; they have all generated considerable interest from local people. As a member of the Planning Committee at West Lindsey I have tried, within the constraints of the planning system, to get the best possible results. Planning decisions must always be determined on planning grounds. The best representations that we receive at the committee are when people come armed with our local planning policies and demonstrate how a proposed development conflicts with those policies. Based on the number of appeals, which have been upheld by the Planning Inspectorate, in the council’s favour; I think we are doing a very good job for our residents.

It was with sadness that I learnt of the death of Nettleham Parish Councillor Allan Bonney in October. He will be much missed. I have been pleased to support and welcome his successor Mr. Richard Porter to the council, who will formally sit with us for the first time this January.

As we approached the end of the year my time, and that of my colleagues, has become increasingly focussed on getting the district council’s budget to balance. It has not been easy. Tough decisions continue to lie ahead and that means that the local elections in May will be terribly important. They will be a choice between a competent Conservative administration that has weathered the choppy waters of austerity and has a plan for the future or the risk of the untried and untested alternatives. 

I have very much enjoyed the past two years as a district councillor for the Nettleham Ward. I hope that local people will be kind enough to re-elect me in May so that I may continue to keep our community at the forefront of the minds of local decision-makers.

For each and all I offer my sincere wish for health, prosperity and happiness in 2015.

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.”

Riseholme Residents Demand Action After Collision on Riseholme Lane

Two teenagers have been injured in an incident on Riseholme Lane and local resident are calling for action. The two teenage boys, a sixteen year-old from Market Rasen and the a seventeen year-old from Grimsby, were hit by a car at 4.57pm on Tuesday, 6th November.

The older of the two boys is understood to be being treated for serious head injuries at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital while the younger one has been discharged from Lincoln County Hospital after being kept in overnight for observation.

A  seventyh-four year-old man, from Lincoln, has been arrested on suspicion of failing to stop after the collision and has been released on police bail until Tuesday, 18th December .

It comes after one lady died in a crash on the road last July when her car collided with a tree.

Parish Councillor Mrs. Barbara Lane, said the road was used by drivers cutting through from the A15 to the A46. Speaking to the Lincolnshire Echo, she said:

"It tends to be used as a rat run and collisions like what happened on Tuesday don't surprise me at all. 

"They're always mending and repairing fences down Riseholme Lane after cars have hit them. All the residents down here are getting fed up. It's a good job there aren't very many children down here.

"Another problem we have is with students and coaches using the lane to get to Riseholme College instead of the main entrance. I don't know what the answer is but Riseholme Lane isn't in a very good condition either and really needs patching up."

Meanwhile, Mr. Martin Finney, a resident of Riseholme Lane, commented to the paper:

"If you're not careful you can easily get into some trouble on Riseholme Lane, whether you're a driver or a pedestrian."

Lincolnshire County Council's Area Highways Manager, Mr. Alan Brown, said:

"Once we get full details through about what caused this collision, we can assess whether any changes to the highway are needed."

Riseholme Lane Closure For Two Weeks

Lincolnshire County Council's Highways Department have today announced that:

"It will be necessary to impose a temporary restriction to all vehicular traffic on the road.

"Adequate arrangements will be made to enable pedestrians to access premises in the affected area while works progress."

Riseholme Lane will be closed for what is described as 'essential carriageway widening works' between Monday, 19th April and Friday, 30th April 2010.

The recommended alternative route for this period will be via Grange De Lings, Ermine Street (A15), and Riseholme Lane.

If you have any queries, or require further information, please contact the Greater Lincoln & Gainsborough Highways Division on 01522 782070.

Giles McNeill said:

"While disruption is never wanted I am sure that local residents and motorist will benefit from the widening of road, what will be unwelcome is if this work results in more traffic passing through Riseholme to avoid the Lincoln By-Pass."