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.”

Conservatives Hit Right Note in Langworth

Nettleham & District Conservatives have enjoyed an excellent summer's evening of entertainment and refreshment at the Memorial Hall in Langworth.

Members of the Nettleham & District Conservative Branch
with Mary and Edward Leigh MP

Over forty people, including local party members and supporters, gathered in the venue to listen to the first public performace of the Lesley Cullen Quintet, who had recently formed, together with other musicians.

A substantial cheese board was available for guests to indulge in, together with an impressive array of homemade desserts and strawberries and cream.

Edward Leigh MP, who represents the area, said:

"This has been an excellent event. The branch always puts on a good occassion and this is no exception. It is good to see many friends, and also new faces."

Eric Pickles Brings Westminster Magic to West Lindsey

As exclusively revealed on here at the start of July the Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles MP, Her Majesty's Principle Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, visited West Lindsey, Lincolnshire yesterday.

Arriving at Retford Station Mr. Pickles was greeted by Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) and Chairman of West Lindsey Distirct Council, Cllr. William Parry, Conservative (Scotter Ward).

Eric Pickles and Liam Smith, lock wands at the opening of the
Room of Requirement at Hemswell Cliff Primary School
(c) John Jenkins/Lincolnshire Echo

Mr. Pickles was speeded away to Hemswell Cliff Primary School yesterday to open a new £10,000 community facility, their 'Room of Requirement'. Named after a secret room within Hogwarts Castle, the library will be open to residents inside and outside of school hours. The Secretary of state even engaged in a wand duel with one pupil to celebrate the opening of a Harry Potter-inspired library.

Mr Pickles praised villagers for their 'heart' in trying to improve the community. Mr Pickles. told pupils:

"If I had known this was being named after Harry Potter I would have wanted a wand.

"I am not from the Ministry of Magic but times are hard."

Speaking of Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Mr Pickles said:

"He said for complete contentment that what you need is a garden and a library. Today he would have said what you need is a garden and a Room of Requirement."

The ninety-one pupils from the school sang two songs which Mr. Pickles praised. Head teacher Mrs. Suzanne Scott said:

"It's a great honour to welcome the secretary of state to our school.

"We are looking forward to using this facility along with our community."

After touring the school, Mr Pickles was briefed on West Lindsey District Council's plans to revitalise ex-RAF bases at Hemswell Cliff, Brookenby and Newtoft, plus RAF Scampton by Cllr. Paul Howitt-Cowan, Conservative (Hemswell Ward), who said the aim was to create more community spaces.

Having seen some of the dilapidated buildings, Mr Pickles said:

"I will rattle the MoD's cage on this as this is a place we should celebrate. What you do have should be a joyous occasion. It shouldn't be like visiting the Bronx. In fact, the Bronx is better."

Mr Pickles later visited Gainsborough to hear about the work of West Lindsey District Council and the way an 'entrepurnurial council' is being delivered.

In the evening Mr. Pickles was guest of honour at a Gala Dinner held at the Gainsborough Golf Glub, Belt Road, Thonock.

Local Conservatives Welcome Minister of State, John Hayes MP

Local Conservatives yesterday evening welcomed Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning John Hayes MP to a dinner at the acclaimed Cross Keys Restaurant and Bar in Stow, north west of Lincoln.


Above: John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further
Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, answers
a question, Cllr. & Mrs. Parry observe.

Speaking to local activists the Minister talked about renewal as the key theme of what he wants to achieve and the achievements that have already occurred since becoming a Minister last year - including the creation of 90,000 apprenticeship places. The Minister paid tribute to Gainsborough parliamentarian, Edward Leigh MP, he said:

"Edward is my closest parliamentary colleague; which comes from, as yet, not having found anything that we disagree about."

Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. William Parry, Conservative (Scotter Ward), who is the Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association's Deputy Chairman (Membership and Fundraising), chaired proceeding giving local party members - both young and old - and others from outside the constituency, the opportunity to ask questions of the Minister. The questions were answered with considerable poise and the minister gave a number of undertakings to bring local people's concerns back to the Departments of Education and Business, Innovation and Science and their respective Secretaries of State. The Minister noted that he was in the unusual position of belonging to two departments. In a surprising revelation the Minister described his working relationship with Secretary of State for Business, Rt. Hon. Vince Cable MP (Liberal Democrat):

"I have never had any interference from the Secretary of State, he has supported me in a number of areas: but I am delivering the Conservative manifesto on further education that I was elected on, and you voted for, and spent my time in opposition, in apprenticeship - if I may put it like that - preparing."

New Community Sports Centre Opened In Gainsborough

Above: Marshalls Sport Pavilion official opening
(Left to Right) Mr. Brian Dalby, Mr. James Nicholson,
Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway, Cllr. William Parry and
Mr. Chris Barry.

A new energy efficient sports facility, which has cost almost £900,000, has been built in West Lindsey to benefit the whole community.

Marshalls Sport Pavilion on Gainsborough's Middlefield Lane has been fitted with solar water heaters to provide hot water to the showers and basins, natural ventilation in the function room, efficient lighting and much more.

The facility was officially opened by the deputy chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. William Parry, Conservative (Scotter Ward).

Cllr. Parry said: "I was privileged to officially open this superbamenity building of changing rooms and function roomfor the Marshalls Sports Clubs.

Funding from the Football Foundation and Gainsborough Development Trust, as well as the District Council, has enabled this excellent sports facility to be built."

West Lindsey District Council took over the running of the site from Marshall's Sports and Social Club about three years ago.

The original pavilion was in a bad state of repair and unusable.

However, sports groups continued to play on the fields and used portable cabins to change in to their team colours.

Now thanks to the funding, a new energy saving building has been built, providing top class facilities for teams to use.

It has been designed by the council's Technical and Contract Services team and Ross Davy Associates and was built by local contractors Gelders. Mr. Steve Gelder managing director of Gelders said:

"It is a fantastic building and by using local contractors you get more of an affinity with the project."

The facility has the following:

• Six changing rooms with their own showers and toilets
• A large function room
• Kitchen and stores
• Two official changing rooms
• Bag/equipment storage
• Entrance foyer with toilets
• The car park has also been extended.

Mr. Brian Dalby, Director of the Gainsborough Development Trust, said:

"This really is a superb facility. The money we have put into this project is surplus from the work carried out on the Riverside and it is good to see this project has also brought money into the town."

Mr. Chris Barry, Technical Advisor for the Football Foundation, grew up in the town and uses the facility regularly said:

"It is fantastic to see this good quality building open in Gainsborough as this is something that has been needed for a long time."

Mr. Graham Lyner, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Football Association, who has been campaigning for a facility like this for about ten years said:

"There has been a lack of facilities in Gainsborough. This building is absolutely wonderful. I would like to say congratulations to everyone who has been involved in making this come true. It is a credit to the town."

Cllr. Mrs. Jackie Brockway, Conservative (Saxilby Ward), chairman of Community and Waste Services Committee was pleased to be at the launch. Speaking to everyone involved in the project, she said:

"You have not just built a building you have built a legacy of opportunity, good health and community. You have not just done it - you have done it well and I thank you."

The facility is fully inclusive for different social group mixes and will help the 14 children's teams, bowls, and cricket and football teams.

Mr. Dave Andrews, Chairman of Marshall's Cricket Club, said seeing the building had made him speechless. He said:

"It is a fantastic facility - beyond my wildest dreams."

From Wednesday, 1st September 2010, the facility will be handed over to Gainsborough Town Council, who will be taking over the running of it.

Mr. Paul Leeder, Clerk to Gainsborough Town Council, said:

"I think this is a fantastic facility. A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work in to getting this facility here. It would be good to get more people to use it not just sports groups."