Boris Johnson in Lincolnshire: County is levelling up
Promise to fix roads funding among good news coming to Lincolnshire
Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Jaines interviews Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Lincoln MP Karl McCartney. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Lincolnshire is levelling up as county leaders call for more funding to help tackle the challenges it faces.
During a visit to Lincolnshire, Mr Johnson visited The Lincolnite newsroom where he answered questions from reporters, residents and local leaders.
Lincolnshire County Council is currently campaigning to “Fix Our Funds to Fix Our Roads,” trying to reclaim £12.5million of lost funding last year – a slash of 25% to its roads budget.
In a video, Lincolnshire County Council leader Councillor Martin Hill said the cut had given the county “some major problems” and called on the Prime Minister to get the Department of Transport to review the decision.
The highways money is just one part in a grander funding view of the county.
Councils across Lincolnshire are also currently looking at raising their taxes by the maximum allowed, while residents face massive bills in the next few months due to hikes on the horizon for energy prices.
Lincolnshire Police are still the worst funded police force in the country.
Labour leader of City of Lincoln Council Councillor Ric Metcalfe had also submitted a question asking what more the government can do to help tackle the challenges the city faces.
Mr Johnson said there was “massive investment” in Lincolnshire’s roads, pointing to the £165 million for the Eastern bypass. However, he acknowledged it was “still something that we have to fix”.
“I am well aware of this issue that your excellent councillor rightly raises and we’ll do what we can to fix that.”
He pledged to bring it up with Transport Secretary Grant Schapps.
Boris Johnson said there had been investment in 99 more police officers in Lincolnshire, and 770 across the whole of the East Midlands as part of the government’s pledge to employ 20,000 more officers.
“It is going up, we want to see more [officers] on the beat,” he added.
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney, who accompanied the PM on his visit, said MPs in the county had not given up on getting a fairer funding formula for Lincolnshire Police in the 12 years since it was first looked at in 2010, and that he hoped it would change under Mr Johnson.
Mr Johnson said the government was investing “massively” in infrastructure, education and technology, including £3.5billion into schools – 6% above the average.
He added there was a focus on “making sure people in rural parts of Lincolnshire get gigabit broadband”.
“People really value that now. Life is digital, the world is digital, business are all digital… everybody needs fantastic broadband.”
He recalled that during a visit in Lincoln five years ago, he had promised broadband to an audience of farmers who had gone “crazy with excitement” about the news.
Was brilliant to welcome the Prime Minister to Lincoln today – he took part in a runway meeting with military analysts at RAF Waddington and was interviewed by The Lincolnite. pic.twitter.com/1tlgKY0hgm
He said Levelling Up for Lincolnshire included “the government coming up with the infrastructure that enables good education, technology, and better roads… and then making the place look great for business to invest in and deliver long term jobs.”
Mr McCartney explained this included the expansion of the university and the growing economy feeding off that.
“So it’s about the state putting in this the bedrock that enables the private sector to create high wage, high skilled jobs. That’s what it’s about,” said Mr Johnson.
It’s happening everywhere in the UK, that’s what we want to do.”
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.