Lincoln REVIEW karlmccartney.co.uk Exclusive Interview Putting Lincoln First ! Getting to know Karl McCartney our local Member of Parliament Beating the Bounds Raising awareness & money for great local causes Your health matters Providing the best local healthcare for all Just the ticket Campaigning for better rail services for Lincoln Reviewing Lincoln life in and around the City, Skellingthorpe, Bracebridge Heath & Waddington East point of VIEW Lincoln REVIEW Next year in May is the General We need somebody who has a Election. The people of the record of action and a vision Lincoln Constituency will be for the future; who has the right asked to make the important priorities and who has a plan to decision about who should deal with them. Lincoln needs represent them locally and in someone to champion further A strong Parliament. investment in schools, health, transport and local services. local voice Who we choose really will be important. We need an MP who Karl offers this; he has a strong will “Put Lincoln First”. They record of working with local for Lincoln must have a strong local voice and people to deliver improvements to be capable of standing up for the our quality of life in Lincoln. He is City, Skellingthorpe, Bracebridge best placed to continue to stand up Heath and Waddington East. for Lincoln successfully over the next five years. Karl with some of those who joined him to Beat The Bounds of the Lincoln Constituency Beating the Bounds “2014” walkers were fantastic and they supported each other throughout c with Karl M Cartney MP the day. We set a fair pace and at the end we celebrated with a few On 20th September Lincoln’s Tank Memorial, MNDA, OneMe, well deserved drinks.” Member of Parliament, Karl St Barnabas Hospice Trust and McCartney, walked the boundary YMCA Lincolnshire charities. Karl hopes that the success of this of his Lincoln Constituency for walk will inspire other charities five great local causes. Karl told us, “I think this kind to take part in similar fundraising of team challenge is a great way events. Joined by various individuals to raise the profile of these good walking for the five charities, causes and the work that they do. Thanks to the success of this year’s Karl and his fellow hikers suc- I am grateful to everyone who has event planning for “Beating the cessfully completed over 30 miles donated and supported us both Bounds 2015” has already started around the boundary. They raised individually and corporately. It with the goal of raising funds and well over £10,000 for the Lincoln was not an easy challenge, but our awareness for more local charities. 2 | LincolnREVIEW point of VIEW talking POINT Lincoln needs frequent, faster train services The last five years have seen huge improvements to Lincoln’s rail services, but they can still be better. Rail travel is growing years ago. This has a direct rapidly nationwide and effect on investment in our demand for services here City and is inconvenient in Lincoln mirrors this and frustrating. I have been trend. working on this issue with After much negotiation the Department of Transport by Karl McCartney MP, and there is now finally light Lincoln now has a daily fast at the end of the tunnel.” direct rail service to and from London. This is vital Karl also said “....positive for the City, giving residents news that the Castle Line a direct route to London project will go ahead has and giving both tourists and been announced by the professionals easier access Secretary of State. I trust to Lincoln. With Lincoln that these improvements playing a central role in next will lead to a more frequent year’s 800th anniversary service, a reduction in over- celebrations of the signing crowding, quicker journey of the Magna Carta, it is times and improvements to important that the City has the weekend timetable.” a rail service that can cope with the increased demands This is very welcome placed on it. news and will be a hugely beneficial to the people of While Lincoln now enjoys Lincoln and in particular the the benefit of a direct route local economy. to and from London, there is more work to do to secure The LincolnREVIEW com- more regular commuter and mends Karl for all his hard weekend services. Karl tells work in bringing better rail us “It takes longer to travel services to the City and the from Nottingham to Lincoln surrounding areas. now than it did one hundred | 3 the INTERVIEW Putting Lincoln First ! LR: Karl, tell us a bit in London on the Sir mentary teams. I also about your background. Keith Park Memorial now coach the Lincoln Campaign before I was Under 8’s Rugby Team. Karl: I am a married elected as the MP for As the 2015 family man with two Lincoln in 2010. I have been able to use General Election young sons who keep my love of sport to me busy. I was born in LR: What do you do support different sports draws nearer we Birkenhead, grew up in for relaxation? teams in Lincoln. Most met up with Karl the North West and went recently I was proud to to find out more on to study Geography Karl: I enjoy Hornby present the Birchwood at St David’s University trains and Scalextric Colts Junior Football about who he is College in Lampeter. with our boys, walking team with a cheque for and what he has I have always been our two dogs and I am a £400.00 to secure new willing to graft and in keen sportsman. goalposts after theirs done to date my youth I had many were sadly vandalised. jobs: I worked as a I was Captain of the I recently hosted a plasterer’s labourer Welsh University’s First funding workshop for with my Grandad, in a XI Football Team from all of the sports clubs coathanger production 1990 – 1991 and play and teams in Lincoln at plant and as a dustman. football, cricket, hockey Lindum Association. More recently, I worked and rugby in the Parlia- 4 | LincolnREVIEW “I am working hard to ensure Lincoln has a strong voice in Westminster” LR: You are now into Eastern Bypass has now 2016. your 5th year as our MP. been secured thanks to I will work with the Do you think that £millions of funding. RAF and Government Lincoln has changed? The Canwick Road Ministers to seek a CHARITY CRICKET Karl: Firstly, I would improvement scheme reassurance that the like to say how proud I will soon be underway, Air Show will return in am to represent the City easing congestion around future years, especially of Lincoln, Bracebridge the South of the City. ahead of the Centenary Heath, Skellingthorpe This is in addition to of the RAF in 2018. and Waddington East. the improvements that It is a real honour and were made last year in LR: What about the next privilege to be your and around the Rookery five years? Member of Parliament Lane, Brant Road and Karl: I will continue and I have worked hard Newark Road junctions. to work hard to secure with local people and Lincoln’s future, seeking BIRCHWOOD CLEAN-UP organisations on a plan LR: What about the further investment in our of action for the City areas you represent infrastructure, securing to secure money for a outside of the city? new job opportunities new Eastern Bypass, Karl: Outside of for Lincoln. improvements for our the City of Lincoln I I will continue to host City Centre and for represent Waddington Jobs Fairs to help find improved rail links. East, Bracebridge Heath employment for those This will mean more and Skellingthorpe. I seeking either a first or jobs for local people, less will continue to work new position in Lincoln. congestion on our roads, hard for these villages. I will campaign for a new and faster train journeys Recently we have had Park & Ride Scheme so for commuters. the good news that North that traffic congestion is ARMED FORCES RUGBY By working together we Kesteven has the lowest further eased. New roads have been able to make crime rate in the UK. I and road improvements a difference to improve would like to thank the will benefit Lincoln and our quality of life in the people of Bracebridge the local economy. Lincoln Constituency. Heath, Waddington East As a part of my role I and Skellingthorpe for recently organised a LR: What have you done the role they play in day of activities to to improve the City’s preventing crime. showcase our wonderful infrastructure? I continue to support City of Lincoln to senior Karl: In 2010 when I RAF Waddington as I representatives of John POST OFFICE OPENING was elected, I promised know how important Lewis as I believe one & GREEN TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS that I would seek further the RAF base is to the of their stores would be investment in the City community. beneficial to the retail Centre infrastructure, Unfortunately due to mix that Lincoln offers. including broadband and runway maintenance, the Overall, I will continue, our transport network. 2015 Waddington Air as I have done in my I am proud of what has Show has already been first 5 years as the City’s been achieved to date. cancelled and there is no Member of Parliament, The long anticipated certainty it will return in Putting Lincoln First! | 5 Your Health Matters Families in Lincoln want to know that they are receiving the people of Lincoln first and I am best local healthcare available.