Martin Hill

By Martin Hill Leader of Lincolnshire County Council

After the historic EU referendum vote, the actual “divorce” will begin in just a few weeks.

As readers will know, the government has pledged to trigger Article 50, beginning the process of leaving, by the end of March.

That will be followed by a period of complex negotiations with our EU neighbours to secure the best possible deal for the UK.

But what does all this mean for Lincolnshire? What does the post-Brexit future hold for us?

I’m hugely optimistic that the country and the county can both thrive outside the EU, as we’ve done so successfully in the past.

It’s about seizing the very real economic and other opportunities presented by Brexit, not getting demoralised by the challenges.

Looking to the future, the UK will again have control of its borders, and can ensure migration is reduced to sensible levels.

That will be welcomed by residents across all seven Lincolnshire districts, which without exception returned “Leave” results well above the 52% national figure.

In Lincolnshire, of course, EU workers currently play a vital role in our farming and food production sectors, as well as in big organisations like the NHS.

That may need to continue for years to come, while we invest in better skills and training for our own young people, as well as new technology.

Besides migration, the UK’s huge contribution to the EU budget was another big issue in last June’s referendum.

Although Vote Leave’s £350m figure was disputed, no-one doubts that we currently hand over many millions of pounds to Brussels every week.

Outside the EU, that money will again be under the government’s control – and it’s essential that Lincolnshire receives a fair share of it.

As a vitally important agricultural county, we will need support for farmers to replace the current flawed system of subsidies, so they can compete on a level playing field.

For the first time in decades, we can decide for ourselves how best to target that help, balancing efficient production with good environmental practice.

After Brexit, EU infrastructure money will also be back in the country’s own hands, allowing us to set our own priorities for big projects.

Locally, for example, I’d argue for the dualling of the A17 and A15, as well as investment in better flood protection and energy generation.

We also need to give as much support as possible to Lincolnshire’s many great businesses – big and small – encouraging them to thrive in the global economy.

Already, our exporters are benefiting from the fall in the value of the pound, which has made their goods more competitively priced, and confidence is high.

In the post-Brexit world, we need to forge more international relationships, creating new jobs and more prosperity for local people.

Of course, none of this means turning our backs on Europe – far from it.

It’s in everyone’s interests for our close trading, economic, cultural, security and other links with the remaining EU member-states to continue, and they will.

As with any divorce, the best approach is to look to the future with optimism – not back to the past with regret – and see just how much we can achieve.

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

The history books will remember 2016 for two events of truly global significance – the Brexit vote and the US election. Both should teach politicians one thing above all – to listen to the people.

That’s exactly what Lincolnshire County Council did in the autumn when it turned down the devolution deal on offer from the government.

The proposals would have been handed extra responsibilities and funding from Whitehall to Greater Lincolnshire, where they belong.

However, the deal would have come at too big a price, concentrating powers in the hands of a directly elected mayor few people actually wanted.

In consultation, 53% of residents in this area rejected the idea of this new layer of bureaucracy costing £1.2m a year.

That message was ringing in the ears of county councillors when they voted to turn down the deal – to my mind, that’s democracy at its best.

For the future, many of us remain firmly in favour of devolution in principle, but it has to be the right set of arrangements for local people. Watch this space!

Martin Hill with his Patterdale Terrier, Boris

Locally, 2016 was another superb year for the council’s heritage attractions, which continue to draw huge numbers of visitors.

At Lincoln Castle, 533,000 people flocked to see the iconic Poppies: Wave sculpture, originally part of an installation at HM Tower of London.

The Usher Gallery was also privileged to host the BP Portrait Award, which brought the very best of contemporary portrait painting right to our doorstep.

The exhibition attracted more than 8,000 visitors, giving a further boost to the already flourishing visitor economy.

And there’s more to come in 2017 as we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln Fair with a major exhibition and other events.

This “forgotten” battle saw the defeat of an invading French army, changing the course of English history, and we’ll be doing it justice throughout the summer!

We’ll also be marking the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest – a historic document on display at Lincoln Castle with Magna Carta.

On the roads, 2016 saw the completion of the £22m East West Link Road, which now provides a direct connection from Lincoln High Street to Pelham Bridge.

It enables traffic to bypass the city centre railway crossings, cutting congestion, improving air quality and reducing journey times.

The link road has also freed up land for economic development, providing a blank canvas for the local business community to grow.
Pedestrians, meanwhile, can make use of the new High Street footbridge completed by Network Rail.

Of course, all these projects – plus the major city centre redevelopment – inevitably cause disruption.

We do everything we can to keep that to a minimum, and have also introduced a permit scheme for utility companies and other contractors.

That gives us more control over how their works affect traffic, which is good for ordinary people going about their busy lives.

In 2017, the £99m Lincoln Eastern Bypass – from the A158 Wragby Road roundabout to the A15 at Bracebridge Heath – will finally start to take shape.

It will take three years to complete but eventually cut congestion on some city centre roads by up to 25% and add an estimated £600m to the local economy.

Work will also begin in 2017 on phase two of the £82m Grantham Southern Relief Road, which will involve linking the new route to the A1.

This will be followed by a third phase, joining the B1174 roundabout to the A52, with the project expected to be finished in 2021.

Staying with infrastructure, first-class broadband is no longer a luxury – it’s vital for any modern home or business.

With that in mind, the Onlincolnshire partnership, led by Lincolnshire councils and BT, has been continuing the roll-out of superfast broadband.

More than 90% of the county can now sign up with an internet service provider and enjoy faster speeds, and the next phase will take coverage to almost 97%.

In all these areas, it’s about getting things done, even when finances are really tight, as they’ll continue to be in the years ahead.

Above all, it’s about listening to ordinary people – the real lesson of this extraordinary year.

New Year’s resolutions

Personal

Looking ahead to 2017, my personal wish – as leader of the Conservative Group on the county council – is for a really strong showing in the May election!

Professional

More generally, I hope the government gives Lincolnshire enough funding to protect essential services – and that it pushes for a Brexit that honours the spirit of the popular vote. 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.