The daughter of an MP, a former Labour candidate and a woman who is at the “heart of the community” are amongst the Conservative candidates hoping to be elected for the first time this year.
The party has their eye on picking up two more seats on North East Lincolnshire Council in May’s local elections. Candidates are hoping that local issues and the improved recycling system will deliver voters.
The party has recruited some new faces alongside other long-standing members seeking re-election. It will be a test of how voters’ see the Conservatives’ previous three years in power.
Christine Vickers, the daughter of Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, is standing in Sidney Sussex ward. She said: “It is my first time standing, but I have been involved in politics for a long time.
“I am local to the area and have been talking to people in the ward about what matters to them. Cutting down on anti-social behaviour, improving the North Promenade and protecting our green spaces are all top of the agenda. Last year saw the first Conservative candidate elected in the Sidney Sussex ward for a long time, so I’m hopeful we can build on that success.”
Mark Sandford is hoping to follow his son Martyn onto the council. Mark previously stood as a Labour candidate, and will be challenging in Heneage ward.
“I have been on Immingham Town Council for many years, but this is my first time seriously being a council candidate. There’s a lot to do in Heneage – I would like to deal with fly tipping, improve the green spaces and cut down on people speeding,” he said.
South ward candidate Karen Batson couldn’t attend the election launch due to commitments at the Grange Community Centre. Her husband Paul described her as “the heart of the community – she’s well known because of how involved she is with everything. The Nunsthorpe is really changing, and she wants everyone to take pride in that.”
Council leader councillor Philip Jackson, who isn’t on the ballot this year, said he was confident that voters in North East Lincolnshire were still backing administration’s approach. He is even hopeful that the party could add to its sizeable majority.
“We have taken pragmatic, common sense decisions rather than the dogma that Labour previously offered,” he said. “The new recycling bin system has dramatically increased how much is recycled. Labour talked about delivering a new waste and recycling system for eight years – we did it in 18 months.
“In this election, we are defending a lot of the seats we took from Labour four years ago, which we have a good chance of doing. I wouldn’t rule out making gains in marginal seats either – we could potentially get a second South ward seat, and we have an excellent candidate in Sidney Sussex.”
Several candidates said that national talking points like the cost of living crisis weren’t on voters’ minds this election. They said that the problems they heard about on the doorstep were all local issues.
“I’m hearing about three things – anti-social behaviour, anti-social behaviour, anti-social behaviour,” Councillor James Cairns, Yarborough ward candidate, said. “People are worried about motorbikes flying up and down Yarborough road, not so much national issues like Brexit or the war in Ukraine.”
In Scartho, councillor Ron Shepherd is urging for a new relief road. In Humberston & New Waltham, councillor Stephen Harness is talking about how new housing estates are affecting life for residents.
This election will be only the second race for many of the group elected in 2018. Councillor Oliver Freeston was 18 years old when he was first elected to his post, and is seeking re-election at the age of 22.
“I understand why people were sceptical when I was first elected – I had lingering doubts of my own. I was entering an arena with a lot of older, more experienced people. There were barriers at first, even with council officers,” he said.
“I hope I have shown myself as someone who can hold people to account, get results and earn the respect of my colleagues. In my first term, we have started to deal with problem of speeding – one of my main election promises – but there is always more that I want to get done.”
By contrast, Councillor Margaret Cracknell has represented Haverstoe for more than 30 years, but says she takes every election seriously. “I never take an election for granted,” she said.
“Residents know me well, but I always listen to what their issues are. We are having big problems with parking around schools which we’re working to resolve – children’s safety has to be our number one issue.”
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An emergency road closure will be put in place for two hours in Stamford’s Red Lion Square on Wednesday as expert crews carry out road materials testing.
The critical work will take place on Wednesday, May 25 and the road closure in and around the square will be in effect from 10am until 12pm. A full route diversion will be signposted.
The roads will have to be closed because some of the materials testing will be carried out on the live northbound traffic lane in the area.
The route map for traffic whilst testing is underway. | Photo: LCC
Just last week a forty-year-old gas main was discovered during works to replace the old cobbles in Red Lion Square, which the county council said was likely to delay the completion of the £1.4 million project. The site team began the works but later identified the shallow gas main on-site that may need to be diverted.
Lincolnshire County Council will keep, and update, the cobbled square despite the mayor of Stamford previously calling on the authority to instead use tarmac. Local residents had previously reacted in horror when the traditional paving setts were repacked with patches of tarmac in 2020.
Red Lion Square in Stamford. | Photo: LCC
Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We are sorry for the inconvenience that these material tests will cause and for the late notice of the road closure in Red Lion Square.
“Our on-site team has uncovered questions about the road materials which need clear answers and these can only come about through these tests.
“Rather than postpone the works further we will close the road for two hours to carry out the tests and then resume to the original plan of works for the area. We are doing this to absolutely minimise the disruption to road users as much as possible.
“Whilst this situation is not ideal, we appreciate the efforts of all concerned. I want to thank everyone effected for their patience in this matter whilst we carry out these tests.”
Over 300 kilos of essential food was donated to Lincoln Foodbank at the opening night of the Hunchback of Notre Dame on Monday, and the show’s producers are offering a prize draw of free tickets to people who continue to help the cause.
The Starring Lincoln Theatre Company’s production of the classic Victor Hugo novel had its opening night at Lincoln Cathedral on Monday, May 23, and it will continue to bring shows to the legendary venue until Saturday, June 4.
The company called on ticket buyers to bring food donations with them to the cathedral for Lincoln Foodbank, and the results certainly did not disappoint.
Andrew Buhagiar, a 20-year-old student from Malta, stars in the production as Quasimodo. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Over 300kgs of goods such as UHT milk, sugar, tuna and tinned foods were collected at the cathedral, a brilliant start to Starring Lincoln’s target of four tonnes – which was achieved during performances of Oliver! in 2017.
The appeal has never been more necessary, with Lincoln Foodbank taking on more people’s needs than ever before, and it has even reached the stage where some of the Hunchback performers are relying on the use of the food bank.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Visitors are being invited to continue bringing food donations with them, with a collection point situated in the nave of the cathedral.
All donations are welcome, even from those without tickets to a Hunchback production, and anyone who brings something along will be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket to one of the shows.
A magical display inside Lincoln Cathedral. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tim Marks, who plays Clopin in the Hunchback of Notre Dame said: “It is heartbreaking frankly that people in one of the richest countries in the world simply cannot afford food.
“We know the people of Lincoln have gone above and beyond before with their kindness and crikey we thank them for it, but the Foodbank has never been more in need of donations.
“We have friends, some of whom in the cast who are in need of the Foodbank’s services, so please bring what you can and in return we promise we will entertain you with an absolute stonker of a show!”
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