West Lindsey News and County News Summer 2017
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countycountynewsnews SUMMER/AUTUMN 2017 countynews contents contentssummer/autumn 2017 7 3 News in brief Four pages of stories from across Lincolnshire 7 Driving forward on roads Leader’s welcome... Important county highways schemes Welcome to the summer/autumn edition of County News – the first since the 8 Heart of the community Lincolnshire County Council election in May. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to The 2017 Good Citizens Awards vote, giving us 35 new recruits and 35 returning members on the new authority. 13 Caring for young carers Let’s also pay tribute to the hard work of all the Support for children helping others ex-councillors – from across the political spectrum 8 – who chose not to stand again or lost their seats. Voters, candidates and councillors are the 14 Our promises to you lifeblood of local democracy, and Lincolnshire The council’s post-election priorities would be a much poorer place without them. As the new council starts its work, this edition 16 Your county councillor highlights our priorities for the county over the next four years. Find your local representative They include lobbying for fairer funding from the Government – a major aim for this authority 19 Battles and Dynasties to ensure we have the money we need for good An unmissable heritage exhibition local services. We’re also committed to progressing major 13 road schemes, improving our health system and 21 West Lindsey News achieving a successful Brexit for Lincolnshire. Eight fabulous pages of district news At a local level, we have a pull-out guide to all 70 county councillors, so you know who to 29 Out and about contact if there are issues you’d like to raise. We also introduce the youngest member on the Your essential guide to authority, Alexander Maughan, who – at just 20 summer/autumn events 19 – proves that age is no barrier to public service. Away from politics, we highlight the winners Contact us of this year’s Good Citizens Awards, all working 32 tirelessly for others without expecting any reward. Web, email, phone or post – you choose! Equally deserving of our admiration – and featured in this edition – are young carers supporting loved ones across the county. We also look at the problem of loneliness, Contact information and how a group of men in Louth has restored EDITORIAL MORE INFORMATION friendship to its members’ lives. Lincolnshire County Council Printing: The National Leaflet Company. Turning to infrastructure, we focus on major Tel: 01522 782060 Distribution: County News is published by Lincolnshire road schemes either underway or being planned Email: [email protected] County Council. Each edition is delivered to about By post: County News, Lincolnshire County 345,000 homes and businesses by Royal Mail. to keep Lincolnshire moving in the decades ahead. Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, Next edition: The autumn/winter edition of the Last but not least, we celebrate the stunning LN1 1YL magazine will be distributed in late November 2017. Battles and Dynasties exhibition, which showcases Online: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countynews Audio versions: County News is available to download a superb array of treasures at The Collection, Editor: David Harding, communications officer in audio format at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countynews Managing editor: Karen Spencer, or as a CD on request from Listening Lincs on 01522 plus the simply unmissable Domesday Book at 782010. Lincoln Castle. communications manager West Lindsey News: Communications team, Sustainability: County News is printed on paper from 01427 676502, communicationsteam@west- responsible or well-managed sources. Please recycle the lindsey.gov.uk magazine when you have finished with it. Design: Neil Lamont and Associates Cllr Martin Hill OBE Leader of Lincolnshire County Council news in brief Lincolnshire news round-up Changes to roadside grass cutting Grass cutting on highway verges is being reduced as the council works to balance the books. Under the new set-up, the council will now only fund two safety cuts a year alongside the road. This will save the authority around £750,000 annually. In some areas, the work will be taken on by the district/parish/ town council, who may also carry out additional cuts at their own discretion. Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “The council can no longer afford to do everything it’s done in the past, and that has meant changing the way we do things. “We believe this new approach strikes the right balance – it keeps our roads safe, while ensuring the service remains affordable. “And by find savings in this way, we can continue to protect other vital areas like the pothole budget.” Perfect costumes, perfect venue Local fans of acclaimed BBC drama Wolf Hall have another four weeks to catch its wonderful Tudor-style costumes. The stunning replicas have been lent to Gainsborough Old Hall by Angels Costumes, a specialist supplier for stage and screen. They will remain on display at the attraction – one of the country’s finest manor houses, dating from the 1460s – until 28 August. The historical drama, screened two years ago, told the story of Thomas Cromwell’s rise to fame in the court of Henry VIII. Jon Hogan, from Lincolnshire County Council’s heritage service, said: “Henry VIII himself stayed at Gainsborough Old Hall with his fifth wife Catherine Howard in 1541, making it the perfect setting to see these magnificent Tudor costumes.” He added: “Wolf Hall was celebrated by critics for its historical accuracy, and the costumes are a brilliant example.” Mark Rylance, who played Thomas Cromwell, was awarded a BAFTA for his performance, while Damian Lewis (Henry VIII) and Claire Foy (Anne Boleyn) were nominated. Entry to the costumes exhibition is included in the entry price for the Old Hall. Visit www.gainsborougholdhall.com or phone 01522 782040. Applying for school transport Show prize draw If your child is starting primary or secondary school in September, they may Congratulations to the winners of the Lincolnshire Show be entitled to home-to-school transport. prize draw in the last edition of County News. To qualify, pupils must generally be attending their designated area school The first names out of the hat were Sheila Connor, from and live two miles from a primary or three miles from a secondary. Coningsby, and Janet Wright, from Branston. For more information, please email the Transport Commissioning We hope our two winners and their guests enjoyed their Team at [email protected] or call special day. 01522 782020. countynewssummer/autumn 2017 • www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/countynews 3 NEWS IN BRIEF Fire safety first Firefighters have been visiting high-rise accommodation across Lincolnshire following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. They have called at blocks of flats to check communal areas and firefighting equipment, and to give safety advice to residents. Simon York, area manager prevention and protection, said fires of the magnitude of the London disaster are “extremely rare”. “However, it has understandably caused concern for people living in high-rise buildings, so it’s important we offer reassurance and let residents know what we’re doing.” Save on your bills Across the country, local authorities and housing providers have been asked to identify buildings with cladding and arrange for it to be tested. If Local residents can make huge savings on their energy bills by any local tests fail, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue will visit the premises as a registering for the Lincolnshire Energy Switch scheme. matter of priority. Householders who signed up through their local councils in 2016 saved In addition, community fire safety teams are encouraging people to take £250 on average. If you’re worried about the cost of fuel this winter, normal precautions to keep themselves safe. register now and see if you could lower your bills. “These include simple things like testing smoke alarms once a week, Anyone can apply – whether you rent your home or own it, whether checking electrical appliances, and taking care when cooking,” said Simon. you’re on dual fuel or electric only, and whether you pay monthly, quarterly For more information on Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, visit www. or with a prepayment meter. lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr. All you need is your annual gas or electric statement or bills covering the last 12 months. Once you’ve registered your interest, energy suppliers compete in an auction with their best offers. Offer letters showing the potential savings will be sent to your home or email address. There’s no obligation to accept, but if you do it’s easy to switch and the new provider will take care of the whole process. Register at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/switch or call 0800 048 8439. Shaping our coastline Going to school for the first time Coastal flooding is an ongoing risk in Lincolnshire – and you can Was your child born between 1 September 2013 and help decide how best to manage it. 31 August 2014? If so, they can start school from 4 Local sea defences currently reduce the risk to 30,000 homes and September 2018. businesses, 24,000 hectares of farmland and 19,000 static caravans. Before then, you’ll need to apply for a place, which you can do This is done every year through the Lincshore scheme, which replaces from 13 November 2017 until the deadline of 15 January 2018. sand lost on beaches to natural erosion. There are two ways of applying, either: The Environment Agency and its partners are now reviewing how the • Online at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schooladmissions. risk can be managed in an affordable and sustainable way over the next 100 years. • By phone on 01522 782030.