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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It has been a tragic week with three deaths on Lincolnshire’s roads after two male motorbike riders and a man on a pedal bike lost their lives.
The roads are now busier again after further lockdown restrictions were eased on April 12, but since then three men have sadly died.
A man died after falling from his pedal bike in Branston on Wednesday, April 14 and police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
On the same day, a 34-year-old male died after a crash involving two motorcycles near Gainsborough.
The man who lost his life in the collision was riding a silver Wuyang motorcycle. The second motorcycle was a blue Suzuki being ridden by a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries.
A 54-year-old man from North Lincolnshire also died after his motorbike crashed with a Royal Mail post van on the A631 near Glentham at around 4pm on Thursday, April 15.
This comes after it was revealed on March 11 that for the first time in over three decades nobody had died on the county’s roads in the first months of the year, according to Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
Lincolnshire Police revealed earlier this week that between 2018 and 2020 twenty five motorcyclists lost their lives on Lincolnshire’s roads.
There have been 285 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and eight COVID-related deaths so far this week – a 7% drop in cases and one less death from the previous week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 32 new cases in Lincolnshire, eight in North Lincolnshire and three in North East Lincolnshire.
On April 16, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported two hospitals this week so far, compared to none this time last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 2,596 to 4,383,732, while deaths rose by 34 to 127,225.
In local news, Lincolnshire health bosses expect COVID-19 cases to rise in our region as lockdown is eased, but are optimistic that if numbers are kept low enough, then people will be free to enjoy the summer.
Andy Fox, Deputy Director of Public Health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the lifting of coronavirus restrictions this week had not caused any specific concerns yet.
Since Wednesday, Greater Lincolnshire has again seen a decrease in its infection rates overall, against an increase nationally.
All districts have seen a fall in their rates, except small increases in North Lincolnshire and South Holland. Lincoln has stayed the same and has the lowest rate in the region.
Boston has the highest infection rate of COVID-19 in Greater Lincolnshire and is ranked 9th in the UK.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 16:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 9 to Apr 16. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
England’s R number has dropped slightly to between 0.7 and 1 according to the latest data this week. This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass it on to between seven and 10 others.
The new Indian variant of the COVID virus that’s been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus.
It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system.
People are “likely” to need a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine within 12 months of getting the first two, Pfizer’s chief executive has said.
Dr Albert Bourla said a booster jab could be necessary “somewhere between six and 12 months” after the second one – and every year thereafter.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, April 16
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,919 cases (up 43)
41,028 in Lincolnshire (up 32)
9,275 in North Lincolnshire (up eight)
8,616 in North East Lincolnshire (up three)
2,185 deaths (up three)
1,613 from Lincolnshire (up three)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,383,732 UK cases, 127,225 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
Plans to demolish part of a former play centre and Chinese takeaway to build 41 new student flats, have been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council.
Killingbeck PLG has applied for permission to demolish “most” of the existing facade of the former home of Imagination Station and Big Wok, on Beaumont Fee, and rebuild it as part of the development.
The main hall, a warehouse and a recently built “link block” to the rear of the building will also be demolished, and will be completely replaced with a new extension.
In documents to the council, the applicant describes how the 41”study bedrooms” will be en-suite and open off a central circulation area.
The build will form part of the Iconinc post-graduate residential units development next door and will sit opposite the Park Court student accommodation on Park Street.
It will include 12 apartments on the ground floor, 11 at first and second floor and seven units on the third floor.
How the build could look.
The application said: “There is a clear need for good quality, post-graduate, city centre, residential accommodation and the economic case for the redevelopment of the site is reinforced by the fact the site can be linked with the new Iconic development so amenities can be shared.
“The demolition of the existing property and the proposed redevelopment will bring positive benefits to the area economically and aesthetically.”
As part of the build, residents will gain shared access to existing facilities including the gym.
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