April 18, 2017 1.55 pm
This story is over 52 months old
Lincolnshire MPs react to PM’s call for general election on June 8
Lincolnshire MPs have been reacting to the news that Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election for June 8. The surprise announcement was made by the prime minister outside Downing Street on April 18. Theresa May has repeatedly made clear in the past her desire to not hold a…
Theresa May on her visit to Lincoln in 2015. Photo: Steve Smailes/Lincolnshire Reporter
Lincolnshire MPs have been reacting to the news that Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election for June 8.
The surprise announcement was made by the prime minister outside Downing Street on April 18.
Theresa May has repeatedly made clear in the past her desire to not hold a general election before 2020.
However, she claimed that opposition parties in Westminster were putting Brexit at risk of jeopardy.
She said: “We need a general election and we need one now.
“I have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion but now I have concluded it is the only way to guarantee certainty for the years ahead.”
Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act introduced by her predecessor David Cameron, the PM is unable call an election directly, but she said she would lay down a motion in the House of Commons that would require two thirds of MPs to back it.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that he welcomes the snap election.
Sir Edward Leigh – Gainsborough
Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
“I’m delighted to have this opportunity to go back to my constituents and seek a mandate to deliver the PM’s vision for Brexit.
“I look forward to getting out and about in the constituency and securing my reelection.”
Martin Vickers – Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
“I fully support the PM’s decision. A convincing Conservative victory will strengthen our hand in the Brexit negotiations.
“The election will also be a vote of confidence in the government’s handling of the economy – an area of policy that the Labour Party have no realistic, coherent alternatives and a woeful record of failure still fresh in the minds of voters.
“Also when people look at the party leaders Theresa May stands head and shoulders above Jeremy Corbyn.”
Matt Warman – Boston and Skegness
Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman. Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter
“I support the call for the general election and the opportunity to give the prime minister the ringing endorsement she richly deserves.
“What we need to do is deliver a strong, stable Conservative government led by Theresa May, which will enable us to have the best possible government for the Brexit process and the best government as a whole for the country.”
Grantham and Stamford – Nick Boles
Nick Boles, Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford. Photo: Policy Exchange
“I fully support Theresa May’s decision to hold an election, and I think that it is right to secure that mandate from the country as we head in to the Brexit negotiations.
“On a personal level I will be talking over the coming days to family and colleagues to make a decision, which I will announce in due course.”
Karl McCartney – Lincoln
Theresa May with Lincoln MP Karl McCartney Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
“I am delighted that the prime minister has shown strong leadership in calling a general election in June this year.
“It gives the people of the city of Lincoln the opportunity to choose a Conservative government that will deliver a successful Brexit, continue with improving the quality of life for everyone in Lincoln and continue with its investment plans for our city and county – just has it has done since I was first elected in 2010.
“The choice is clear – between a Conservative government and Member of Parliament that wants people, businesses and organisations in the city of Lincoln to succeed, and a Labour Party who have repeatedly said they will do all they can to frustrate Brexit and put jobs and livelihoods at risk, both locally and across our country.”
Melanie Onn – Great Grimsby
Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn
“I will be standing to continue as Member of Parliament for my hometown, Great Grimsby.
“It has been a privilege to represent the town I was born and raised in, and I have spent the last two years standing up for Great Grimsby in Westminster, putting the town back on the map and making sure that people listen to us again.
“Whether it’s meant working with the prime minister to protect local jobs, speaking up for the fishing and renewables industry, or fighting against the Conservative government’s cuts to schools and hospitals, I have always made Great Grimsby’s voice heard in Parliament.
“Theresa May has said since becoming Prime Minister that calling an election in the middle of the Brexit negotiations would be a distraction from getting the best deal for Britain, putting her party before the country.
“Calling this election now shows that she cannot rely on her own party to back her on the key issues.
“I am standing again to ensure that we get the best Brexit deal for Grimsby. I accepted the result of the referendum, heard what people in Grimsby were saying during the campaign, and voted in parliament to trigger Article 50.
“My focus since June 23 has been to protect workers’ rights from the right-wing Tories who want to see them cut; secure local jobs which rely on market access to Europe; and holding the government to the promises they made to the NHS and fishing industry during last year’s campaign.
“I am hopeful the voters of Great Grimsby will choose me on their ballot papers again and allow me to continue standing up for Great Grimsby in Parliament.”
Caroline Johnson – Sleaford and North Hykeham
Sleaford and North Hykeham MP, Caroline Johnson. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
“We need this election now to secure the strong leadership that this country needs to see us through the Brexit process, and beyond.
“The division in Westminster caused by the other parties, coupled with the government’s small majority, risks weakening our hand in our negotiations with Europe.
“This election gives us the opportunity to bring stability and certainty for a full five years. The choice is a stark one – the strong and competent leadership of Theresa May, or the weak and unstable Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn.
“I am looking forward to getting back out on the doorsteps to continue my conversation with local people about what they want to see from Brexit and from a government working in their interests.”
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Two men have been charged after a police officer and a woman were seriously injured on Friday night in the village of Welton near Lincoln.
It happened at around 8pm when Lincolnshire Police were called to the Black Bull pub after a drunken man allegedly assaulted a woman, injuring her face.
The suspect and another man left the pub and caused disorder at the Welton Social Club shortly afterwards, police said.
When officers arrived, a struggle reportedly ensued and a male police officer was assaulted, causing serious head injuries.
He was taken to hospital, where he remains for treatment.
The two men aged 24 and 32 were eventually arrested and on Saturday night Lincolnshire Police named and charged them.
Daniel Plackett, 32, of Scothern Lane in Dunholme, has been charged with three offences:
Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (AOABH)
Assault on Emergency Worker
Resisting Arrest
Steven Rogers, 24, also of Scothern Lane in Dunholme, has been charged with one count of Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).
They both remain in police custody to appear before Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 20.
Superintendent Lee Pache said: “There are many words I could use to describe this incident and the people who have assaulted our officer and the female member of public, but not one of them could adequately describe my anger, disgust, and shock at what has taken place.
“Today we have a member of the public who will be in considerable discomfort and will undoubtedly be shaken up, to her we say we are doing all we can to make sure those responsible are held to account. And we have a police officer who is lying in a hospital bed, seriously injured.
“This incident has sent shock waves through our force because we’re a tight-knit one and the friends and colleagues of our officer are not only worried about him but are saddened and go out to work today with heavy hearts. Every day they put themselves in danger, usually in defence of complete strangers, and should never have to pay this price as a result.
“We are working hard to establish exactly what has happened and to anyone we might not have spoken to, or is anyone has any footage of either incident, we’d be grateful to hear from you.”
A former Lincolnshire lorry driver has been jailed for 12 months for sexual offences against children in the 1970s.
Lawrence Burman, 75, of Beck Side, Hibaldstow, pleaded guilty to four counts of gross indecency against a child and two counts of indecent assault against a child, St Albans Crown Court heard.
The offences relate to three children, aged between eight and 13 at the time they were abused by Burman.
The court heard how Burman used to work as a lorry driver for a firm in Hemel Hempstead. In 1970, he carried out a sexual act in the presence of one victim while they both sat inside his cab.
Burman then went on to commit several offences near Berkhamsted between 1972 and 1978. One offence was also committed in Lincolnshire.
Detective Constable Laura Chillingworth, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s historic child abuse investigation team, said: “Burman arrogantly believed he would get away with his actions, thinking his victims would never reveal what happened to them. However, their courage in coming forward meant he did have to face the consequences of what he did all those years ago.
“On arrest, he denied the allegations and claimed his victims were lying, but later pleaded guilty to all charges.
“Child victims of sexual abuse never forget what happened to them. They have to learn to live with it, but understandably it often has a hugely negative impact on their self-esteem and their mental health.
“I hope the conclusion of this investigation and its outcome finally gives all three of them a sense of closure on the past.”
Burman will be on licence on his release from prison.
Three-quarters of the 600 complaints over the past six years about an “horrendous stench” from a Skellingthorpe factory were sent to North Kesteven District Council in 2021, a Freedom of Information request by The Lincolnite has revealed.
It comes as residents continue to demand action about the problem plaguing the village, particularly on Jerusalem Road, where people have had to endure smell and noise coming from the near by A Hughes & Son rendering plant for several years.
Residents have been raising the issue for years, with The Lincolnite repeatedly pressing the council and the factory for answers. Two residents recently said the smell did improve for a while, but the problem certainly hasn’t gone away.
A Freedom of Information request sent to the district council, asked for the number of complaints between the start of 2015 and August, 9 2021. Data between August 9 and September 15 was later provided by the council.
There have been a total of 600 complaints between the start of 2015 and September 15. Of these, 452 were during 2021, which represents 75.3%.
The original data showed 353 complaints were received between the start of 2015 and August 9 this year. The figure then shot up by 192 in the short space of time between August 9 and August 17, and up another 55 by September 15.
A map created by a resident, with responses from more than 70 people, to visualise the spread of the smell.
The Lincolnite also asked, via the Freedom of Information request, what action has been taken by the council against site owners Leo Group, and A Hughes & Son, during this time, including any fines and written warnings.
No action has been taken against Leo Group, while environmental permit holder A Hughes & Son got a formal written warning in relation to odour emission on August 3 this year. On the same date, a formal written warning in relation to particulate emission was issued to the company.
Then on August 20, a Request for Information Notice was issued. The council says the company has supplied the detailed information required by the council and within the prescribed timescale.
The factory is located on Jerusalem Road in Skellingthorpe. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The council said: “Given the substantial volume of information submitted, this needs to be reviewed which will take some time. The aim of the exercise is to fully understand the procedures in place on site and assess these in accordance with industry guidance.”
The Lincolnite contacted A Hughes & Son for a comment, but there was no response at the time of publication.
One resident said black smoke can be seen every day in Jerusalem Road.
Resident Joff Burr said: “We had weeks with no smell, even recently when we had all that sun, but this week it is back. It felt like since the last Lincolnite story the smell went away, but now it is back again. They [the factory] must have some sort of control over it.”
Fellow Skellingthorpe resident David Crockatt said: “It has been better recently. We had last weekend when it was bad for a few hours, then it improved slightly, but we are still trying to put more pressure on the district council about this issue.”
Meanwhile, a resident, who wished to remain anonymous, created a map from more than 70 responses, to visualise the spread of the smell the factory produces, saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” – view the map here.
The rendering plant is located on Jerusalem Road in Skellingthorpe. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
In February this year, plans were unanimously approved to demolish the existing animal by-products processing plant and build a new processing plant at the farm.
Meanwhile, we reported in May Lincolnshire County Council will consider a re-submitted application for a controversial animal rendering plant in nearby Norton Disney.
Lincoln Proteins Ltd resubmitted its planning application for the facility at Villa Farm in Folly Lane after it was previously refused in February 2020 amid concerns over heritage and location. Previous plans also prompted protests by residents who campaigned to “say no to the stink”.
Visit Lincoln will undergo a rebrand to incorporate the whole of Greater Lincolnshire, expanding the organisation’s geographical footprint.
Visit Lincoln’s new name will be Destination Lincolnshire and will be business focused, to build an engaged tourism, hospitality, leisure and retail community across Greater Lincolnshire.
The award-winning destination management organisation formed in 2012 and has supported a visitor economy growth of 30% to the city of Lincoln since it formed.
The transition to Destination Lincolnshire will be led by businesses, with representation from local authorities involved in the Towns Fund initiative as well as other schemes in Lincolnshire.
There will still be a commitment to Lincoln, as a continued investment in Visit Lincoln allows it to remain an internationally recognised brand.
All marketing activity including the website and social media will remain as Visit Lincoln, along with consumer facing brands such as Taste Lincolnshire and Cycle Lincolnshire.
The organisation’s evolution has been backed by councils across Lincolnshire, and has also developed a partnership with the University of Lincoln’s tourism research observatory which champions research and a data-led approach in the tourism sector.
Speaking about Destination Lincolnshire, Kate Ellis, strategic director for major developments at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Over the last 10 years Visit Lincoln has played a critical role in transforming the city’s tourism offer and international profile.
“Given the impact of COVID we need a much more collaborative approach to rebuilding the visitor economy led by the private sector. By working together we’ll be championing the recovery of the sector much more effectively then if we do it alone.”
Charlotte Goy is the Visit Lincoln CEO. | Photo: VL CIC
Charlotte Goy, chief executive at Visit Lincoln, explains: “Destination Lincolnshire will focus on building an engaged and resilient visitor economy across Greater Lincolnshire.
“Tourism, incorporating retail, leisure and hospitality has been most affected by the pandemic; and Destination Lincolnshire brings forward a new structure which is business led and across a wider geographical footprint.
“Our growth is supported by businesses and operator within the sector who want to see a joined-up approach, and together we’ll champion new packages, digital innovation and collaborations that have not been possible before.
“Destination Lincolnshire will also deliver against the Government’s key visitor economy priorities which include sustainability, skills, inclusive tourism and the levelling up agenda which include the multi-million-pound Town Deals across Lincolnshire.
“We’re at the beginning of this journey, and we will be asking people to help us shape Destination Lincolnshire into an organisation that can support all levels of the visitor economy, from sole traders right the way through to the local enterprise partnership.”
Lincolnshire County Council hopes to get a court order to remove an abandoned trailer of rotting rubbish in Lincoln – if it can’t find the deceased owner’s relatives.
The trailer, described by the county council, as a “wooden caravan-like structure” has been parked on Ripon Street for two years or longer according to a local resident.
The county council stuck a notice letter to the trailer in March this year, stating it was an obstruction to the highway and needs removing within 28 days, which has still not been done. However, commenters on The Lincolnite’s story earlier this week flagged up that the trailer’s owner had died, including one person who said she’d “reported it to the council after the family cleared his flat out”.
The Lincolnite contacted the county council to ask for clarification on the situation and a spokesperson said: “We’re still looking for the current owner’s family and alongside that we’re hoping to secure a court order to allow us to move it, should no living relatives be found.”
Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at LCC, previously said the council was trying to find out who now owns the trailer to avoid local taxpayers having to pick up the bill for moving it.
She said: “We appreciate this is a nuisance for local residents. We want to make sure as much of your money as possible goes into maintaining and improving our roads.”
The council has not set an exact deadline in its search for the owner’s family, but once the court order comes through a more accurate timeline will be known.
The trailer is full of rotting rubbish. | Photo: Submitted
A notice from the county council was stuck to the trailer stating that it needs removed within 28 days, but this was back in March 2021. | Photo: Submitted
This comes after a concerned Lincoln resident contacted The Lincolnite calling on the county council to take action, saying he has never seen the area so filthy in more than half a century.
And the trailer full of rotting rubbish isn’t the only issue on Ripon Street, as there also appears to be a problem with fly-tipping and overgrown weeds, which City of Lincoln Council says it tackling.
The weed spraying programme is ongoing with Ripon Street scheduled to be sprayed in the next two weeks.
The city council added that Ripon Street and that general area is ‘subject to a significant amount of fly tipping, which is why we try to check and clear all streets around there at least weekly’.
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