December 29, 2016 8.30 am
This story is over 67 months old
Reflections 2016: Victoria Atkins – A year which will be studied by historians in the future
What a year! The EU referendum, a new Prime Minister and a surprise win for President-elect Trump means that 2016 is a year that will be studied by historians in years to come. The EU referendum was a promise made and a promise kept by the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has been…
What a year! The EU referendum, a new Prime Minister and a surprise win for President-elect Trump means that 2016 is a year that will be studied by historians in years to come.
The EU referendum was a promise made and a promise kept by the Conservative Party.
The Prime Minister, Theresa May, has been very clear that the result of the referendum will be acted upon by the government and a new relationship forged with the world.
This month, I voted to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017. The Prime Minister will then commence negotiations to secure the best terms for our exit from the European Union.
Meanwhile, day-to-day life – and politics – carries on.
Local broadband continues to be the focus of my attention because it is so important in modern-day life.
Rural areas need broadband just as much as urban areas and the residents of Maltby le Marsh, Kirkby on Bain and other villages deserve better.
I am Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on this topic and we have been lobbying hard for improvements.
The government has listened to our representations and introduced the Universal Service Obligation to help the hardest-to-reach areas. The USO gives people a legal right to an affordable, fast broadband connection on demand from a designated Universal Service Provider, at a minimum speed of 10 mbps, no matter where they live or work, up to a reasonable cost threshold
In addition, I am bringing the experts to Louth & Horncastle to hear directly from constituents. I am holding a Broadband Summit on the January 20, 2017. This will be your chance to raise your concerns directly with broadband providers.
If you wish to attend the summit please email me on [email protected]
We all want a thriving local economy. In September, I held the first of my Jobs & Apprenticeships Fairs to help increase employment locally, support successful businesses and develop skills in training and apprenticeships.
Many prominent local and national companies, including Luxus, Polypipe, BAE and National Grid, educational establishments and other organisations were present to offer advice, encouragement and, hopefully, jobs and apprenticeships to local residents.
Education is key to ensuring successful futures for our children. I have visited many schools all over the constituency this year, and have enjoyed every visit. I also invited the Secretary of State for Education to the constituency to see the success of local schools and to listen to students and teachers.
Hosting schools in Westminster is a highlight of my week. I have invited all secondary schools in the constituency to come to Westminster for a tour of Parliament and the chance to see real debates happening in the Chamber.
Primary schools are most welcome, too; I am looking forward to welcoming Coningsby St Michael’s Church of England Primary School for the next of these visits.
I hope that the visits bring politics to life for our young people.
Most people in the world don’t live in a democracy: when the wider world looks so unsettled, we must teach our children that we cannot take democracy for granted.
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and New Year.
New Year’s resolutions
Personal
I look forward to welcoming more schools and constituents to Parliament to see the historic ‘Mother of all Parliaments’. In rare moments of rest, I intend make the most of the beautiful walks available through our Lincolnshire countryside with my family.
Professional
My professional resolutions for 2017 include helping the government to deliver Brexit, working hard in my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office and continuing to campaign for better broadband.
Victoria Atkins is the Conservative MP for the Louth and Horncastle constituency.
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The man who died in a collision involving two lorries and a truck on the A47 in Cambridge has been named as a 28-year-old man from Lincolnshire.
The driver of the truck was travelling westbound at Kings Cliffe, having left the A1 near Wansford, when he was involved in a collision with two HGVs.
Officers and paramedics attended the collision, which was reported to police just before 7.15am on August 10, but sadly Cameron Shepherd, of Holbeach, Spalding was pronounced dead at the scene.
The drivers of the two other vehicles were uninjured, police said.
Cambridgeshire Police officers are urging anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the vehicles in the moments leading up to it, or who has dash cam footage to contact them.
The force can be contacted one via their web chat service or by calling 101 quoting incident 115 of August 10.
City of Lincoln Council’s Executive will discuss proposals later this month to transform land previously let for grazing into a new woodland and nature area for wildlife.
At Executive on 22 August, members will hear proposals which would see council-owned land, which sits between Simon’s Hill allotments and the River Witham, converted into woodland and woodland glades.
In 2019, the city council declared a climate change emergency, and is taking a number of steps to drive local changes where it can, specifically to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.
In transforming this 3.45ha area of land, which is currently vacant, and by planting an estimated 3,000-6,000 trees over the years ahead, it is hoped this will encourage further greening of the city and help create further ecosystems in the area.
As the focus of this project is nature conservation it is not proposed that this area will be fully open to the public. However, if approved, a perimeter path would be established around the site for dog walkers and nature enthusiasts, with views into and across the area.
It is also proposed that although not having fully open access, there will be ‘open days’ at times, to explain what is being done and why, to promote the benefits of trees and wildlife in the city.
Cllr Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place and Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change said: “This initiative will add to both the quantity and quality of biodiversity in the city.
“Aside from the direct impact that adding more trees to the city’s inventory will have, this site will act as a catalyst to promote climate change issues, and the wider benefits of greening the city.
“We want to make this a truly city-wide effort, and so hope to welcome anyone who wants to help to get involved, be that individuals, small groups or even corporate bodies. Everyone can do something to help us get this exciting new project underway.
“I look forward to discussing this further with my colleague on Executive.”
Dependent on approval, it is expected that the first trees will be planted on site in winter 2022, however a full timescale of works has not yet been set.
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