Read the November 2026 update here ...
Marianne Overton MBE
November 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.
Grants
I’m delighted to announce another grant success! I submitted an application to Lincolnshire County Council Strategic Community Fund for Witham St Hughs Parish Council, and we won. Witham St Hughs received £12,499 to replace surface areas in three play areas.
This follows the successful £6,000 grant won last month for the Norton Disney Archaeological Group.
I have small sums still available in my councillor fund for community projects that benefit a good number of people. Please ring and e-mail me.
Navenby-Waddington GP Practice
Thanks to all who put themselves forward to be on the new Patient Participation Group. Are you happy to be just online answering questionnaires, or could we make the group more effective, with say quarterly meetings with the data to hand? The Integrated Care Board responsible will provide the waiting times, for example, and whether the patient has seen a GP (locum or not) or another practice professional. We can ask the practice for progress and let people know. It is important this practice is successful, as we do not want to lose it!
Vital Local Plan Consultation
October 22nd to 3 December 2026 23.59
This is the plan that sets the locations of housing, commercial or energy development. The plan also sets the rules by which every application is compared to decide if it gets permission or not. There is also a call for people to propose new land for development.
Consultations | Central Lincolnshire Local Plan
talkplanning@central-lincs.org.uk Phil Hylton
Value of Farmland
Land locally produces wheat at 6.6t/ha sold at £210/tonne (Reference: Hectare trading online) so 10,000 acres produces 40,000 tonnes, worth £8m. A person needs say, 2000Kcal/day. Wheat contains 3000kcal/kilo and 58g protein, more than a daily need. So 40,000 tonnes of wheat is enough to feed 165,000 people for a year. You would only have to add vitamin C and water!
Speaking in Parliament: Solar Summit
A team from the Cliff Villages Solar Action Group joined others action groups in Parliament last month, hosted by our MP, with Graham Stuart MP. The Cross-party event attracted more Lincolnshire and other MP’s who came and spoke as did some of our team, including Mark Williams, Nick Coxon, Martin Elvin, Barry Smith and Karl Koenen. I talked about the value of all farmland. Step by step, we are creating an unstoppable force.
Particularly striking for me, was the expert contribution from Kathryn Porter on the really high cost of solar, over-priced in contracts and covering the cost of back-up because renewables are intermittent. When the sun shines or the wind blows, everyone produces at once and we have to switch them off, but we pay anyway. When it doesn't shine or blow, we also pay for the gas or nuclear plant. Intermittency cost millions every day through Autumn so far, and on the day of the summit, rose by £1m every half hour. Renewables are very expensive indeed. This information is published here:
Neso Operational Transparency Forum
Consultation at Cranwell
Parish Councillors and residents attended the first consultation on the development at Cranwell, called Windsock, very close to Springwell and near the Cliff Villages. At 640 acres of solar and a BESS of unknown size is proposed with a new substation, called “Trent Valley South Node C”, close to Navenby. That would then open the floodgates to a further 10,000 acres in our area. This madness has got to stop.
Navenby Substation
26/0575/FUL via planning online. You can still register your objection. This is a foot in the door. Please act now. Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 2
COP 31 in Antalya, Turkey
I am not speaking at COP this year, but last week I took part in excellent briefings for Local Government online. Many partners will soon be at COP31. World leaders are gathering to encourage and share ideas on tackling climate change and mitigation measures, seeking the best solutions. Good luck, all! You can follow online here.
Here is an interesting summary of initiatives from Local Government across the world.
Supporting Small Businesses
Ellie Mottram and Cllr Peter Overton at the lovely Coleby Lodge Farm Threshing Barn café. This local family farm business provides a warm place to gather and is available for private hire. Ring 07507 830816
Halloween Events
Thanks to lovely event organisers including Bassingham, Harmston, Welbourn and including Coleby’s brilliant pumpkins. Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 3
Lovely Art Exhibition at Carlton le Moorland
Harvest Festivals
Huge thanks for all the lovely harvest festivals. I enjoyed All Saints, Beckingham and super lunch afterwards. Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH cllrm.overton@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01400 273323 or 07920 235 364 /page 4
Award to North Kesteven
North Kesteven District Council won silver from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in November 2025.
“With strong links to RAF Cranwell, Digby, and Waddington, more than 10% of our District are military service leavers, meaning many local businesses are likely to employ Veterans or partners of serving military.
By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, businesses and charities can show their support and commit to treating those who serve, or have served, and their families fairly. Find out more at: https://orlo.uk/CeL1g
Signing the Covenant is also the first step towards achieving an award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. Find out more about the scheme at: https://orlo.uk/7MCEe
The Great Exhibition
The exhibition at the Epic Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground attracted many businesses again this year. Organised by the Combined County Authority, the theme was “Greater Lincolnshire feeds, powers and protects the nation.” Scunthorpe has been named as a place for datacentres, so I hope they did not mean more solar! Graeme Ritchie, of Sheild Space, spoke about significant risk as we rely on satellites for communications. “Defence should be in Lincolnshire - build it or buy it!”
Sleaford Redevelopment
The District is again looking for investment in the Maltings in Sleaford to bring the buildings back into use. There is already a planning application that I supported, including shops, cinema and some housing, which attracted a £1m grant from English Heritage. It seems to be time to look again! Your thoughts? A very smart website with Consultation is here until November 22nd. Well worth a look! You can visit in person at Cogglesford Mill in Sleaford on November 13th to 16th 12 to 3.30pm daily.
Local Government Reorganisation reset
The Government shocked us 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. Elections to the new Unitary could be the following year for five years – a year overlap.
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
Want to keep in touch?
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