Read the October 2026 update here ...
Marianne Overton MBE
October 2026 Newsletter
Greetings!
Welcome to my monthly personal newsletter to let you know what I am doing on your behalf and to keep in touch with you.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the Norton Disney Archaeology Group, Richard Parker and the team on all their work. I am so pleased to have been able to support them in our bid for £6,000 from our Council Community Fund.
Having worked for some years with the Navenby Archaeology Group, I know how much professionalism and sheer hard work is required. The Norton Disney Archaeology Group do a brilliant job and I look forward to many more exciting discoveries of our rich local heritage.
I am also working with Carlton le Moorland, Aubourn and Haddington and Witham St Hughs. If you have a project in mind, the next deadline is the end of the month, so please give me a ring and send me an e-mail.
Men’s Group
The Wellingore U3A has a new Chairman, Adam Paxton who is thinking of setting up a men’s group. I have been along to some guest days at other men’s groups. They work well, meeting for coffee and cake and/or mending and making things in a workshop.
Wellingore U3A
I helped set up the Wellingore U3A some years ago and am really impressed to see how it thrives. Brenda Dandy was thanked for her work, as she stepped down, and Adam Paxton was voted in.
There are a host of really interesting meetings, sub-groups reading books, going on outings to interesting places, lunches, walking, gardening and board games – anything you like! Main events are on the second Wednesday monthly at Wellingore Memorial Hall for a warm welcome, coffee and biscuits at 10am for a 10.30am start. Interested? Just come along or contact Heather on 07904 950485 member.sec.wellingoreu3a@gmail.com
There are a huge number of really good clubs and groups in our communities, and newcomers are always welcome. Join any of the events listed at the end of this newsletter.
Care for Adults in Lincolnshire
Sitting on this committee at Lincolnshire County Council I get a monthly briefing and opportunity to help influence better support for adult care and public health, including pressing for better support for mental health. The County Council provides support for around 15,000 people, using around a quarter of the annual budget. All those receiving care from the Council do pay something, and if you have more than £23,500 in the bank, then the Council does not need to help, unless you drop to the threshold by normal expenditure.
Hence many more people access private care, and the Council will not have a record of this unless the person is in a care home, which is a small proportion of people. The Council does do assessments of need, and signposting for all. There are some 70,000 unpaid carers in Lincolnshire. Currently many people do not undertake the financial assessment if they are unlikely to qualify for assistance, so there may be many more.
The latest Government ambition of free care for all at the point of access, not counting accommodation costs, would be hugely expensive and rising all the time. I worked on this nationally some years ago. Local Government agreed that the best way just to stand still, was a 1% increase on national insurance. The Government suggestion that the funding should come from health is astonishing.
Health in Lincolnshire
I have received a number of complaints about waiting in Lincoln A & E, not for four hours, the old target, but for days, seriously ill and needing a bed. I have raised this with Health Scrutiny at the County Council, whose job is to hold the NHS to account and we are working on it.
The measured performance of health in Lincolnshire is shown in an annual report here. A large rural area, Lincolnshire fails its targets on almost all measures, albeit improving. Urgent ambulance wait times remain stubbornly difficult. Staff are highly praised for their caring and professional attitude, despite tough conditions. We clearly need more health care, not less! Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 2
Who buys our health services for us? The Integrated Care Board commission’s health services for us using £1.8bn. Government has just halved their organisation’s budget with 976 employees now at risk of losing their job, some who live in our area.
Local Government Reorganisation stopped
Less than a month ago, the Government shocked our Councils by stepping back from dissolving and reshaping our councils! Now, elections on 6th May 2027 will be for the District Council and Parish Council seats.
Want to help or be a Councillor?
I bet you do a lot for our community, and you might like to do more, by plugging into the Council as a Councillor. It is really important we have elected representatives who listen to residents. We have a team who can help. Please give me a ring. 07920 235 364
IT Workshops for you
Just starting or want to know something specific?
Come along on Wednesdays at Welbourn Village Hall 7- 8pm. Wed 7th October, 4th November of 2nd December
Empty Homes
Locally, we have been helping local home-owners get empty properties back into use, helped by North Kesteven District Council. About 20 per year are recovered by helping owners with incentives like HMRC’s VAT Discount Scheme, advice on planning, signposting to potential sales opportunities and helping to navigate legal complications. The District Council has to charge double council tax on habitable, long-term empty homes, and will seek owner action where there is neglect. Thank you for raising properties with me for action. For more information, visit the Council's empty homes webpage: https://orlo.uk/v4IRm The Government’s regulations on second homes or unoccupied properties are here. https://orlo.uk/Z0nLb
Thanks to the Emergency Services
Following the heinous attacks on coastal rescue volunteers, I proposed a motion of support on behalf of the Independent Councillors on Lincolnshire County Council. I am pleased to say it was unanimously supported. More here https://rnli.org
Tackling Climate Change
- Without creating an environmental and economic disaster!
Attending conference this week, I was particularly impressed by the house builders who are already integrating sustainable practices into the housing sector as a crucial step in addressing the climate crisis. It's heartening to see such collaboration and dedication within our industry. Together, we can pave the way for a more sustainable built environment.
I was also pleased to speak at the national conference last month with the Climate Party, pointing out that if we wanted to reduce our impact on the climate, we needed to produce energy close to where it was needed – on industrial roofs, down railways, on any built structure, not covering vast areas of good farmland.
I also attended the showing of the Climate Emergency Film at Sleaford and spoke there too. There were some points to be clarified:
1. The total land take may be relatively small if you include the moors, but applications are pouring in and developers are targeting farmland, swallowing miles of good farmland in Lincolnshire, among the best in the world.
2. The fossil fuel engines may be inefficient, but solar panels are much worse, about half as efficient at 15%.
3. Solar is NOT cheaper when you recognise that the back-up energy infrastructure is additional, when the wind does not blow or the sun does not shine. Building the panels, cables and power stations also cost us money, hence our energy costs are among the highest in the world. By the time we should get a pay back in 2041, new technology will be needed. This is a never-ending treadmill tied in to paying global bosses.
When energy is locally-owned and produced close to where it is needed, we save money and the environment. Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 3
Harvest
Thanks for all the Harvest Festivals much enjoyed across the County, celebrating our farmers and their produce.
After nine weeks of drought and intense heat waves, this year, crops were around 20% down, except for oil seed rape which was at the highest yield on record. As farming suffers the vagaries of more extreme weather, it is ever more important to keep as much farmland as possible available for food production. Farms produced up to 11.5tons/hectare of wheat this year, so the proposed solar, if connected at Navenby, could displace up to 40,000 tons of wheat, worth around £8m every year.
Solar on Roofs, not Fields!
Thanks to cross-party colleagues on Lincolnshire County Council for supporting us in our communities, this time by taking Beacon Fen forward for Judicial Review based on Kings Counsel identifying faults in the application and thus the Inspectors' decision to approve.
Solar industry belongs on industrial land, on roofs or any built structure.
Nick Coxon and I represented residents, the Cliff Villages Solar Action Group and the Lincolnshire Independents and led the call "Solar on roofs, not fields"!
If you have not yet registered an objection to the proposed power substation at Navenby, that opens the door to 45 sq.km of industrial development on good farmland, the website is still open: Please register now.
Go to https://planningonline.n-kesteven.gov.uk/online-applications/ Reference is 26/0575/FUL
Water Shortage - Hosepipe ban still applies
The ground is still very dry and the reservoirs not full. The wetlands at Frampton are a stark reminder. A rare American had flown in, a Buff-breated Sandpiper!
Aubourn Clocktower and Church Reopens!
Huge thanks to the hard work put in by the Parish Council and volunteers, restoring the Clock Tower and St Peter’s Church. It was great to see it in use for an excellent session on First Aid. Bookings are available for this delightful space. Clerk to the Parish Council 07828 259300 parishclerk@aubournwithhaddington-pc.gov.uk Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 4
Local Events
This is just what makes our Lincolnshire villages so special, and makes me really proud of our community. Thank you.
Last Night at the Proms in Beckingham
A huge success, and thanks to Rosemary Blakesley for putting it together. The music master, Angela Kay and choir were excellent and we much enjoyed the food!
Carlton le Moorland Coffee Morning 3rd Sat. monthly
Fashion Show, Wellingore
Huge thanks everyone involved in the Fashion Show at Wellingore memorial hall yesterday. Especial congratulations to Janis Tunaley, the WI and the team of volunteers - amazing.
A full house of 80 enjoyed the WI-made plates of food. The parade of models of all ages, swirled beautifully round the hall, ably compered from the stage. Guests went home with bags of clothes, preloved but perfect, all of the highest quality and all for under £30. Funds raised go towards the disabled facilities in All Saints, Wellingore, enabling greater access and enjoyment of our beautiful Church.
Fashion Show, Wellingore
Coleby Car Boot Sales- last of the season
Thanks to the fantastic team of helpers raising funds for all the village charities with cake baking, serving bacon butties and chilli patties and managing traffic, every month all summer. Thank you! Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 5
Pink Floyd in Lincoln Cathedral – tribute
The Cathedral has a series of excellent events, very well attended. More here. Discover Our Range of Events at Lincoln Cathedral
Nato Exercise
In case you wondered at the recent increased air activity, RAF Waddington and Cranwell hosted Cobra Warrior 26-2 with visiting aircraft from Germany, Italy, Netherlands and the US. Very impressive. More here.
86th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
Peter and I arrived early at Lincoln Cathedral for a well-attended and moving service to commemorate and celebrate those few who gave so much for so many, 86 years ago and those who serve today. I was very pleased to see councillor colleagues, the Lord Lieutenant, Toby Dennis, and RAF station commanders from Digby, Cranwell and Waddington. My husband’s father was Flying officer C N Overton DFC, a Battle of Britain pilot, so the annual commemoration is a bit special for us.
Want to keep in touch?
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Best Wishes,
Marianne
Marianne Overton MBE