Read the September 2026 update here ...
Marianne Overton MBE
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!
Sir William Robertson Academy is celebrating an outstanding set of GCSE results in 2026, marking one of the most significant improvements in the Welbourn school's recent history.
Mrs Smith’s Cottage has been successfully awarded full museum status. Huge thanks to our wonderful volunteers who make a visit to Mrs Smith’s Cottage, a time capsule from the 1950’s, just an amazing experience.
Norton Disney History and Archaeology Group who have won £6,000 to run the dig next July. Congratulations to Richard Parker and the team whose achievements gave me plenty to write about in the application.
Grants
Our first grant application from the new Strategic Fund was successful. I am also working with Carlton le Moorland and Witham St Hughs. If you have a project in mind, the next deadline is the end of September, so please give me a ring and send me an e-mail.
What I need to answer in competition with bids from across the County is this:
- Contact details and name of organisation
- How many people and communities will benefit
- Benefits over a wider area
- Partner organisations
- Any Long-term benefits
- How the project represents value for money
- Fit with Council Policy, which I can do.
Nominate your Community Champion
Awards in 11 categories are available from NKDC, but you need to nominate someone! Nominate for Community Spirit, Community Business, Community Group, young achiever, good neighbour, contributions to climate action, arts and culture, a better environment and health and wellbeing. Or a long-standing contribution to a group. Nominations close September 14th Please nominate a local person right away here.
Speak your mind on the Solar – thank you
Almost a thousand people have submitted objections to the District Council about the Power Substation proposed at Navenby and all that goes with it – thank you.
We are not fooled. Building all this damages the planet and by the time payback arrives, estimated at 2040, they will be out of date and want more. We want solar on roofs, close to where the energy is needed, so all this steel and concrete is not needed. This is costing us the earth, literally. Solar Energy UK has calculated that there are over 600,000 acres of south-facing commercial roof still available, an area bigger than London and Manchester combined. Industrial solar belongs on roofs, and any built structure - not farmland.
Please speak up now. Ten minutes max required!
Go to https://planningonline.n-kesteven.gov.uk/online-applications/ Reference is 26/0575/FUL
or go to https://object.now/navenby/
You can also raise concerns with your Parish Council at any time. More info is at www.cvsag.org.uk
A packed Venue at the Navenby public meeting in August.
The proposed solar developments cover about 10,000 acres, over 40 sq.km sprawling over 13 miles from the edge of Eagle to Rowston. Cranwell newly appeared and there are others in the pipeline. The Navenby public meeting was packed with strong objection to the industrial solar developments on farmland, while roofs lie vacant. The key that allows all the rest is the Electricity Power substation, proposed close to Navenby, along with hundreds of shipping containers of lithium battery. If you object to any of it, then you would want to object to this. Although the official date has closed, the Council is still taking comments. Please add yours and encourage others.
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
Lincolnshire Elections next May are for 106 seats in the new Lincolnshire Unitary Council based on the County Division areas each having usually two councillors. The new Lincoln Unitary Council, has 65 seats, based on usually 2 in each District Ward area. Lincoln will extend south to the A17 and southeast to include Metheringham. The new Councils will be responsible for delivering council services including children and adult care, but some “strategic” services will move up to the Mayoral Authority, such as transport and strategic planning. Big decisions, such as the Solar industry and Sleaford reservoir are not being devolved and remain with the Minister.
Could you see yourself standing or helping? Please give me a call.
Biodigester proposed
We had a second site visit this week to view the proposal at Anwick for a large Biodigester around 30 acres close to the Village. The new Biodigester aims to take around a quarter of its material from Moy Park and ¾ from chicken farms up to 60 miles away, in total 140,000 tons/year in 72 HGV’s/day. The eight digestion tanks are 25m high and the towers expel pollutants at 28m and two at 40m.
Photo: Planning committee councillors and officers on site at Anwick.
North Hykeham Relief Road -update
Heavy groundworks are in progress, cutting into the cliff edge and processing the material for reuse near the A607 at Waddington, where the scaffolding and mist curtains catch the dust. Piling for the bridges is also in progress. The contractors paid for a Lincoln Industry Day and a poacher event for scouts, guides and rangers.
Local Events
St Mary’s Church, Carlton le Moorland
The music evening at Carlton le Moorland last week was very enjoyable. Huge thanks for the lovely refreshments and music from local singer songwriters, Ian Fryer from Carlton le Moorland and well- known Lincolnshire Folk Singer Harry Li.
What a great teams we have supporting our lovely Churches! So pleased St Marys is in good hands, vibrant, and deserving our support.
Lost Village
The Lost Village Festival event was successful again in its 11th year. The noise was loud on Friday night, but silent discoes took over on Saturday. There were concerns about fire so the fireworks was not able to go ahead, and then we had the first rains following the summer drought.
Villages within earshot of the festival are entitled to apply to their Community Fund of £60,000/yr.
Harvesting maize
Harmston Village Produce
Huge thanks to wonderful Harmston Memorial Hall organisers of the Harmston Annual Produce Show. Also thanks to all who contributed with support and judging or purchasing at the auction.
Huge congratulations to everyone who exhibited and to the clever winners. Extra work was needed with buckets through the 67-day drought and hosepipe ban. Our rural areas are demonstrating again great community participation and friendship Well done to all for keeping rural life so valued and vibrant!
Leadenham Folk Festival
Congratulations to the organisers once again for a superb day with numerous singers, musicians, poets, comedians and brilliant craft stalls – loved it!
Eclipse of the Sun
Did you see the eclipse? Special glasses, binoculars reversed as here, colanders, or a pinhole in paper - Hope you also managed to enjoy the phenomenon!
Meeting national leaders
I was pleased to be invited to a reception and dinner last week renewing discussions with national leaders in the House of Lords and in Local Government.
Four LGA Chairs, two now in the House of Lords
Want to keep in touch with me?
If you know anyone else who would find this newsletter useful, please suggest they drop me an email here. For updates, please follow me on facebook.
Best Wishes,
Marianne
Marianne Overton MBE
Working together for people and planet