News from County Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
North Hykeham Relief Road
Now that the County Council has pushed through the Mayoral authority, the promised £110 m from the Government is suddenly in doubt! Nevertheless, the Council is still working on it to start late next year if Westminster agrees the funding this autumn.
The legal orders are now published, to enable the County Council to purchase 470 acres needed for the road and to make changes to the road network to accommodate the new road.
The objection period open to everyone, is now underway until 22nd November. By late December the Department for Transport will say whether a public inquiry is needed.
Construction of the new relief road is expected to start in late 2025 and to be open by late 2028. The cost of the project is currently estimated to be around £200m.
The North Hykeham Relief Road project will see a new dual carriageway built, linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the newly constructed Lincoln Eastern Bypass, creating a complete ring road around the city.
As part of the project, new roundabouts would be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road. A number of bridges would also be constructed, including at Station Road and over the River Witham. Video here.
Save our rural Lincolnshire!
Residents are incensed by the scale of proposals for a 32 acre electricity sub-station less than a mile from Navenby.
It could enable vast swathes of solar industry on farmland.
Solar industry on farmland
Thank you for your brilliant support to date.
Covering thousands of acres of our farmland for 60 years with soon-outdated solar industry, while 630,000 acres of commercial roofs lie vacant, is just daft. The money comes from our pockets in a life-time of raised electricity bills on long-term contracts to profit foreign or global companies, leaving no capacity for new and better options. It’s sheer folly. The scale of the proposals is hard to imagine. The whole of Navenby Parish from the Brant to the A15 is 2,100 acres. This transfer station plans to take 9 times as much, with many landowners being heavily encouraged to give up their farmland, removing tenant farmers too. The nature of our rural countryside could change over many miles so we no longer live in attractive villages set in rural countryside, but instead in an industrial area.
We are up against a huge machine and need every bit of help we can get! We have succeeded on other seemingly very difficult applications before, and we need to do it again. Industry should be on industrial land, wind offshore and solar on roofs, car parks, railways etc. And we should use less with well-insulated homes and buildings.
Following the packed meeting at the Venue, the working group for Navenby had an excellent meeting last week. Thanks to all who came and contributed and to the new Chair, Gavin Hellard. If you would like to assist, please get in touch. There are better solutions. (See Oct edition)
Last week, I had a first opportunity to put the case against overdevelopment of solar on farmland to the Secretary of State and will follow up with correspondence to be shared with other ministers as well. The summary of our case and actions sought from the Government are available.
The consultation event held by National Grid at the Venue was well attended by over 300 people, most of whom signed the petition against the proposal and left a comment with us to forward into the planning process.
Fosse Green are now having their second consultation, formal this time. We’ll be repeating our welcome desk for residents. Can you please lend a hand?
Fosse Green Official Consultations
8th Nov 1.30-5.30pm Navenby Venue
9th 3-7pm Thorpe on the Hill Village Hall
22nd 3-7 Bassingham Hammond Hall
23rd 12.30-4.30pm Witham St Hughs Village Hall
26th 6-7pm Online webinar register here.
Local Voice, National Stage
I met with Ministers this week, putting your case on Overdevelopment of Solar and on so-called “Devolution”, creating a new layer of Mayoral bureaucracy.
New Leaders’ Council
I am also pleased to be part of a Leaders’ Council, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chair of the Local Government Association, where I am Vice Chairman. Two other Ministers for the Ministry of Communities Housing and Local Government, Jim McMahan MP and Baroness Taylor, both of whom I have worked well with in the past. The plan is to have a new relationship between National and Local Government with an open door to ideas and communication. They still have their manifesto to implement, of course, but it is a good start.
Impact of National Budget on Local Services
The new Government budget was announced this week, following a great deal of work behind the scenes. We made the case for money to fill the Councils’ funding gap of £4.6bn over 2 years and got £1.3bn this year. That is more for potholes, housing, special educational needs, schools and care. But we also got a significant extra bill for employers’ national insurance rising to 15% and the living wage rise to £12.21 from April 2025.
The NHS has an extra 22.5bn, but Councils provide the care that reduces pressure on the NHS, as well as providing much of what makes for healthy living. From next year, we are expecting a redistribution of funds between councils, which is unlikely to benefit us in rural areas.
National Conference
What a conference week! I have just come back from Harrogate where Councillors from across the country gathered to gain ideas and inspiration, buzzing with energy and enthusiasm!
I gave the obligatory rousing speech to over 300 Independent Group Councillors at our AGM, chaired the Independent-led session on the main stage about Citizens Advice and chaired the sessions on housing and civility in public life. Our Independent Group also led sessions identifying solutions on homelessness, devolution and climate change.
Local Government provides or influences almost all local services for residents, employing 1.3 million people on an annual budget of £127bn, in England this year. The Local Government Association where I am Vice Chairman, is the voice of Local Government. We take your voices right into the heart of decision-making.
Work at North Kesteven District Council
Our group of Lincolnshire Independent Councillors are concerned about the exclusion of Independents in the new devolution structures. In other Mayoral areas, Independents are disenfranchised because they are not one national party. We put a motion to North Kesteven District Council calling for inclusive democracy in the new Combined Authority. This is to ensure that all parties can play a fair part in the new arrangements, including holding the Mayor and the ruling parties to account for effective planning, delivery, and use of resources.
Disappointingly, the Conservatives, voting as one, refused to support any motion other than their own! Thus the proposal to support the international White Ribbon Day to tackle violence against women and girls was also voted down, despite the fact that North Kesteven is a social housing authority where a number of women and girls are offered refuge.
Winter Fuel Payments
Following the Chancellor’s announcements, it is definitely worth checking if you are eligible for pension credit, in which case you would get the winter fuel payment automatically. The Government is urging people to check eligibility here and advice is here.
Thank you if you joined me in signing the petition from AGE UK. An incredible 561,977 have signed calling on the Government to reverse their decision about the Winter Fuel Payment and think again. Campaigners sent over 116,000 emails to their MPs, asking them to help. Age UK met with over 30 MPs to seek support. The campaign continues.
Cyber-crime: beware of any unexpected e-mails inviting you to click on a link to hear more about Winter fuel payments. Please do not click on it! The links in this bulletin take you to the official websites.
Green hospitality
Visit Lincolnshire has produced a toolkit for you to use to make sure that you are not missing out on any savings to your business and the planet! Tourism relies on people wanting to visit our attractive rural area and I know I am not the only one working to keep it that way – from litter-picking to defending against poor developments.
There is also a checklist for churches here!
Green Masterplan for Parishes
Parish Councils are working to reduce their carbon footprint and that of their whole parish areas. To help, the County Council has produced a Zero Carbon Parishes project. More here.
Norton Disney Archaeology Dig
Nortondisneyhag.org ndhags@gmail.com Richard Parker
Big Congratulations to Richard parker and all the team involved in the Big Dig with the Time Team Digital. With a huge number of volunteers, well-managed, there has been a stupendous number of finds which will take considerable time and expertise to catalogue and interpret. Many of us involved in the Navenby Dig know just how much professionalism and care is needed over many hours to discover the stories of those custodians of the land who went before us. Thank you to you all!
St Chad’s in Stars
St Chad’s is creating a suspended art installation in the church. You are invited to collect a star template from the church, decorate them at home and bring them into the church after Remembrance Sunday.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to William Booth on growing the biggest pumpkin in Collingham Show this year at 2.9m round and around 110kg! Also to Andrew Bainborough, third generation (with breaks) at the White Hart at Carlton le Moorland for their excellent food and their pumpkin competition!
Congratulations on the excellent Harvest Supper at Beckingham Village Social Club – what a wonderful event, thank you!
Congratulations to Cat Mill’s women’s Rugby team on their huge win at home – amazing!
I was pleased to speak and support member councillors in Wales last month, where the busy Plaid Cymru conference was held in the Welsh Rugby Stadium at Cardiff! I learnt new information about the nuclear station on Anglesey and the struggle with new power-lines from offshore wind.
Want to keep in touch?
If you know anyone else who would find this newsletter useful, please suggest they drop me an email here. I write a weekly bulletin which you can find here. You can also keep in touch with social media. @overtonmarianne
or facebook
Best wishes,
Marianne
Marianne Overton MBE
Working together for people and planet