Martin Hill

By Martin Hill Leader of Lincolnshire County Council

There’s no doubt about it – 2018 has been a tough year.

Despite both local and national challenges – I am proud that we’re delivering good quality services.

As always, our top priority in Lincolnshire has been supporting vulnerable residents of all ages, from babies and schoolchildren to those with disabilities and older people in our communities.

I was delighted that an inspection in the autumn by national bodies Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) highlighted our sterling work with services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

We have £50m investment plans for special and mainstream schools which shows our commitment to improving support for all children and young people, no matter what their needs are.

Earlier in the year Ofsted also praised our support and services for children in care.

We’re always looking for ways that we can improve our county for all and promote an environment where businesses can invest and thrive.

I recognise that negotiations have been difficult but we should all aspire to deliver the best Brexit for Lincolnshire.

Despite the current uncertainty for businesses, we believe that Brexit will ultimately bring new opportunities for local firms, with greater freedom in our trading relationships.

With that in mind, we have been strengthening our ties with other parts of the globe, most notably China’s Hunan province, who became our sister region back in October. That good work will continue in 2019.

Around the county we are investing in major highways schemes to keep our traffic moving.

In Lincoln, as well as the ongoing construction of the A15 eastern bypass, we have also completed major improvements to Bunkers Hill and Wragby Road to reduce congestion and the risk of flooding.

In a boost to the visitor economy we opened the North Sea Observatory at Chapel St Leonards – the UK’s first purpose-built marine observatory – in July.

The new building includes information and exhibitions on the local area’s rich natural history, an art space, a café and public toilets, and serves as an impressive gateway to the Coastal Country Park.

Following our celebrations in 2018 for the centenary of the creation of the RAF, 2019 is another significant year of anniversaries.

In the spring our Collection museum in Lincoln will celebrate the 50thanniversary of the first walk on the moon with Museum of the Moon. This internationally renowned artwork, which is six metres in diameter, features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface.

Meanwhile, with 2019 also being the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, Lincoln Castle is gearing up to celebrate the best of the Victorian Era.

Also looking forward to next year, I will continue to work with the Government on their fair funding proposals to get more recognition that large rural counties like ours face higher costs and demands in delivering services.

On that optimistic note, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Martin Hill OBE is the Conservative Leader of Lincolnshire County Council. A former farmer, Martin was elected to Lincolnshire County Council in 1993, representing Folkingham Rural. He became council leader in 2005 and was later awarded an OBE for services to Lincolnshire. Martin lives in a former pub at Kirby Underwood with wife Janice and their irrepressible Patterdale Terrier, Boris.

By Martin Hill Leader of Lincolnshire County Council

Lincolnshire’s place in military history is being celebrated this summer with a series of events marking RAF100 – the RAF’s centenary and our county’s connection with wartime aviation.

On July 10, all the focus will be on the national event in London which promises to be a spectacular affair with a commemorative parade and flypast.

But we must always remember the special part our local area played in both world wars.

Did you know that as many as 6,000 people were engaged in producing more than 3,500 aircraft in Lincoln between 1915-16?

Furthermore, during the Second World War, Lincolnshire famously became known as Bomber County because of our numerous military airfields.

Our unique association continues to this day, most prominently with the training college at RAF Cranwell, while RAF Scampton is home to the world-famous Red Arrows.

I am delighted that we are marking the centenary by launching a three-year programme of activities in Lincolnshire.

And the summer months are an ideal time to see what Lincoln and RAF Scampton have on offer.

Called Bastion in the Air: 1915-18, it explores the heroic war effort on the ground and in the skies that led to the formation of the RAF.

Highlights include an exhibition until August 31 at RAF Scampton, north of Lincoln, featuring a recreated First World War airfield.

Find out about the history of Scampton, while dramatic stories of local service personnel bring the period to life. Book in advance here.

Meanwhile, The Collection museum in Lincoln focuses on the threat to Lincolnshire posed by German airships, known as zeppelins.

It also looks at the British fightback, including local aircraft production and the role of female workers known as “munitionettes”.

The exhibition runs until September 9 and admission charges apply.

In addition, you can trace the history of the RAF around Lincoln and surrounding countryside on foot or by bike.

100 Voices tells the story of the RAF through the people who have experienced it, both men and women in military and civilian roles.

Each of the 100 Voices is presented on a “wing” placed in 100 different locations spread over eight different trails.

Photo: Visit Lincoln

For more details see the web page here.

This is all a great opportunity to find out more about our armed forces history while having fun – so get out and make the most of it!

Martin Hill OBE is the Conservative Leader of Lincolnshire County Council. A former farmer, Martin was elected to Lincolnshire County Council in 1993, representing Folkingham Rural. He became council leader in 2005 and was later awarded an OBE for services to Lincolnshire. Martin lives in a former pub at Kirby Underwood with wife Janice and their irrepressible Patterdale Terrier, Boris.