January 21 - District Councillor's Report
May extend to you my good wishes for the New Year and again express my appreciation for your work within the community.
Covid – 19 & related news:
Greater Lincolnshire [whilst N Lincolnshire is in tier 3] has not escaped being put into tier 4 lockdown from Boxing Day and join millions in other areas of the UK that have escalated a tier. The East Coast and Boston continue to be of great concern. Meanwhile, the vaccines are being distributed and despite the negativity on social media, I would encourage you to promote the vaccine. I personally shall have it once the invitation comes. The challenge is, do we want to continue living like this, or take the only alternative out of this pandemic and have the vaccine.2021 will see a gradual transformation and a return to the ‘new normal’ within less than 6 months of the new year. And hopefully, now Brexit is almost done that the Government will focus on domestic policies.
I am conscious, that many of us have written off 2020 and I can well understand why, however, there have been some ‘positives’ wrought out of bitter experience; the rekindling of community spirit, the widespread adoption of ‘virtual’ which will accelerate our working practices and contacts with family and friends, the environment has also benefitted substantially [despite the surge in fly tipping!] and hopefully people’s values have changed for the better, in that, ‘people matter over and beyond materialism’. In time we shall place 2020 into perspective, for we are too close to it to evaluate it objectively. Covid Wardens are still in position throughout the district, as is the Test and Trace Centre in Gainsborough which Sir Edward Leigh PC MP has visited and he urged the PM to allow anyone with or without symptons to attend without booking.
Government support for businesses is still available through the District Council as are Hardship Grants to householders. I am exploring if there are more community grants for village halls in the pipeline.
John Coupland Hospital is to open as the Covid vaccine Centre and I am seeking assurances that a centre will open in Market Rasen
There are unfounded rumours as yet that the extended plans for John Coupland hospital [ named after and fined by the Couplands who were farmers in Hemswell] and cottage hospitals in Lincolnshire are to be cancelled. John Coupland serves Gainsborough and district. I oppose such plans and want to see greater investment in these hospitals. In March, when the pandemic broke out, the Government wrote off the Lincoln Hospital debt of over £378 million. And I cannot believe, that the rumoured u - turn on hospital plans, which were only announced last autumn, are down to finances. When I sat on Health Scrutiny, it was obvious that Lincoln wanted to centralise all its services which are to the disadvantage of our cottage hospitals; local is often best!
The Hemswell Sunday Market remains a concern and is being monitored by officers in regard to compliance with the restrictions Re Covid – 19.The organisers are being encouraged to be Covid compliant however the challenge is trying to encouraging the public to follow the guidelines.
Planning
Planning Application Number: 141873 Rear of 12 Wheldon Rd Hemswell
Application type: Condition Discharge
Application date: 25/10/2020
Planning officer: Vicky Maplethorpe
Description of proposal: Request for confirmation of compliance with conditions 2, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of planning permission 140636 granted 14 May 2020.
Location of proposal: Land to rear of, 12, Weldon Road, Hemswell, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 5UG
New Year Honours in the Hemswell Ward – Congratulations to
Ella Jane Collins (Springthorpe) – BEM for services to the community during the COVID-19 response (Community Champion, WM Morrisons Supermarkets plc)
WLDC
Virtual meetings shall continue with officers working from home for several months into the new year.
Southern Neighbourhood Expansion in Gainsborough
The site off Foxby Lane is being excavated for the building by Keepmoat of 450 dwellings and this shall expand in the years to come.
Elections in 2021
County Council elections with a by election are to go ahead on 6 of May 2021 and election for Neighbourhood Development Plans are being factored in
Corringham Junction
I note that this work was to be completed on 20th of Dec 2020, however, it has overrun and I truly hope that on completion it will both eliminate fatalities and accidents in the future. I am told that the junction should be completed by the end of January. I pay compliment to all those who have supported the effort to address this junction, which has sadly taken several lives and been the centre of so many accidents.
Culture
A cultural Strategy for WLDC is in preparation and comes to the committee of which I chair
Gainsborough Old Hall
This is now under the management of English Heritage. The heritage site is closed for the foreseeable future until the early summer. The Schools programme is planned to start in September and a new guide book is in the pipeline. I am having a meeting with EH representatives on 19th of Jan and I shall know more details after that meeting.
West Lindsey Churches Festival
This has been cancelled for 2021 and plans are well ahead for its return in May 2022.
There remain concerns over the future of the Usher Art Gallery, Lincoln, which is an important cultural centre.
Full Council
On the 25th of January 2021 @ 7pm[ virtual]
The Lea Fields Crematoria has been opened one year on the 10th of January; there are plans afoot to have it landscaped this year.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help or support.
PDJ Howitt-Cowan
Note my new e mail address > kenmare01@ outlook.com