Read the May 2026 update here ...
Councillor Overton MBE
Newsletter – May 2026
Highways Improvements
The County Council was focussed on the main roads. I pointed out they have reached their target and smaller roads are more dangerous. I also argued for more money to be put in, and £6m has been agreed. With more funds and improved machinery, the Council is now repairing 188 miles, especially the smaller roads.
In my division, I have many of my very worst roads are done or scheduled. New planned work now includes Thurlby Road in Bassingham, Newark Road in Stapleford, A607/Cliff Road in Leadenham, Fosse Lane/Old Haddington Road in Thorpe on the Hill/Aubourn with Haddington, Folly Lane in Norton Disney and Hopyard/Marsh Lane Brant Broughton.
I am also working on making the footpath between Leadenham and Welbourn safer. I have had the highways officer out to see it is a dangerous route for children to walk to school. I have opened the conversation with the landowner, spoken to the Councillor responsible and a small starter budget has been agreed. To get a more lasting solution, we are going to need a bigger solution.
Thank you to all my Parish Councils for continued excellent support in improving life in our communities.
Lancaster Sculpture
Huge thanks to Charlie and Nicola White and the team for beavering away on this amazing artwork. Good luck for the opening event on the 15th May at 10am and the evening Fund-raising Ball.
Solar on Roofs, not Farmland!
Public Meeting
Bassingham Hammond Hall, Friday 8th May
Please join us for an update and next steps.
Energy and food security matter — the oil wars over the Strait of Hormuz proved that. Giving up good British farmland for foreign-owned solar panels made in China makes us less secure in both energy and food. This isn’t British energy; it’s controlled by overseas companies, including Chinese operators, with their own priorities. Solar is erratic in its production, leading to an overload on the lines where we switch it off but carry on paying. We paid £1.5bn last year on switched off turbines. Locked into costly long-term contracts, squeezes households with some of the highest electricity charges in the world. And it turns open countryside into industrial sprawl on a scale we’ve never seen. We need you to add your voice, please!
The Springwell site was passed, the biggest in the country, but it’s only the start. There are ten more significant applications following on, losing the attractive nature of our rural countryside to vast and unnecessary steel and concrete. We need to fight them all. Our County and District Councils have begun a judicial review of the Springwell decision. There is hope. Leoda is on hold. I met with four ministers last week and I feel the cumulative effect of so many applications in one area, could be recognised as too much. Can we get the Government to see it that way?
Will the Council pass or refuse the industrial sub-station in countryside to enable the developments?
Please join us on Friday!
Navenby GP Dispensary
Thank you to over 200 people at the public meeting on 6th May at 6pm in Wellingore Memorial Hall. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) at Sleaford closed Navenby GP Surgery and the dispensary with it. The Welby Group now has a two-year contract to run the surgery for 9,000 patients, but cannot get the dispensary back. They have halved the significant backlog of casework and appointed two GP’s, and a prescribing health worker. The two previous GP’s spoke at the meeting. I raised my concern with the GP practice and the ICB authorities and asked to speak at their next meeting. The Government share a long list of Online pharmacies. Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 2
Closure of Swallow Lodge, Hykeham
The closure of two respite homes for people with severe disabilities has been proposed by the County Council, at Hykeham and Spalding. I spoke up against closure in the meeting, as it is a reduction of respite beds when we know we have an increasing need. It follows hot on the heels of ceasing the contract to Shine who provided a great deal of mental health support services. Getting the right help early is vital. I am pursuing both.
Minister views on Energy
Last week, I had the chance to meet with Net Zero Minister Katie White, who chairs a national committee for Local Government that I sit on. Also Martin McClusky, the Minister for energy consumers and Mary Creagh, Under-Secretary of State for Nature, who I had met previously at COP event in Azerbaijan. I did my best on the issue of solar on roofs, not farmland. There was a continuing insistence of the set lines we have heard, but some recognition over the cumulative impact in the scale of industrial development that we face.
Three Parish Councillors wanted
Witham St Hughs is at an exciting time where you can make a difference. The new village hall just going to planning, to be built early next year. Big developments have brought significant funds for the village. Please help decide how it should be spent. What would you like to see in Witham St Hughs?
From Sarah Lingard about new Police Cadets
How about being a Volunteer Police Cadet for 2026 – 2027? Apply before May 13th. Cadets | Lincolnshire Police
Local Events
Thanks to everyone involved in organising and running brilliant local events. I enjoyed the lovely Bassingham Garden open for Beaumond Hospice. Thank you.
80th at Wellingore
This year sees the 80th Anniversary of Wellingore Memorial Hall (1946-2026) - to celebrate we have organised an 80s Party Night - see attached poster!
Date is Friday June 5th and tickets are available at: https://www.wellingorememorialhall.com/event-details-registration/80s-party-night
Centenary at Navenby
The two-day centenary event for the Methodist Church in Navenby High Street was brilliant and very well attended. The lovely welcoming chapel with vaulted wooden ceilings took three years to build, opened in April 1926. Congratulations and thank you to everyone for your warm support.
Our demonstration at Scopwick attracted around a hundred demonstrators calling for Solar on roofs, not farmland. Thank you for your support.
Want to keep in touch?
If you know anyone else who would find this newsletter useful, please suggest they drop me an email here. Please keep in touch with social media. facebook or @overtonmarianne
Best wishes,
Marianne
Marianne Overton MBE