Greetings!
Helping Refugees from Ukraine
It was great to meet nine local Ukrainian arrivals for a simple lunch at Rauceby Hall and supported by Rev. Chris Goldsmith. They are keen to find schools, work, transport and to learn or improve their English, but still want the horrendous war to stop and be able to return to Ukraine. We have a collection with the British Red Cross in Lincoln on Saturday May 7th.
Huge thanks for your help to date. Numbers of refugees are about to increase, as visa applications are speeded up. My cross-party weekly meetings with ministers about how best to assist the Ukranian refugees continue with ministers, Michael Gove MP and Lord Harrington. Refugees who are invited by family are not funded, but sponsored refugees are fully supported.
To find a family to support, a matching service is now on line, https://resetuk.org/ and our refugees are also thinking about people they know. A visa has to be obtained before they arrive in the UK. The visas have been very slow, but now speeded up to 5,000 refugees per week. 60,000 have now been processed, and 20,000 refugees have visas, but not yet arrived. It is not deemed safe for children to be added onto their mothers’ visa, as light checks could not establish whether the child really was their mother or not.
The District Council does a “light touch” assessment of the home, once the visa has been requested. Local support networks remain vital to help the host families who are supporting the Ukrainians and this is where everyone can help! We have a local network on facebook called Homes for Ukraine Lincoln.
Offering democracy in Local Elections
Independents are working hard across the country, with elections on Thursday. There are Lincoln City elections on May 5th and a by-election on May 26th in Quarrington, Mareham and Greylees for North Kesteven District Council. On this Council, there are no Councillors carrying the party name of Conservative, Labour nor Liberal Democrat. Local Councils affect almost everything in our local areas, so it is vital to show you care and to vote.
To register for a postal vote, you get a form from the District Council 01529 414155 or off the internet and submit it to the Council before May 11th 5pm by hand or e-mail to the Elections team
Great Local Events – thanks to organisers and supporters
Sleaford Concert Band at the Sleaford Musicfest, Greylees Easter Egg Hunt and Quiz, Harmston Big Breakfast and Coleby Wedding Gowns Exhibition 1920-2020
Heat or Eat: Tackling Rising Costs
“Residents are telling me they are having to choose between heating and eating – no one should have to make that choice,” said Lincolnshire independent Cllr David Suiter, proposing a motion to full Council last week.
The motion was a plan for Government to do more to help local residents; by increasing the warm home discount for energy saving measures, a windfall tax on fossil fuel, cut VAT on fuel and insulation, and to support alternatives to fossil fuels. The motion was rejected by rejected by the NK Administration, formerly called Conservatives, and we are now approaching Government directly and via the LGA.
Using Less Energy
The Warm Homes Discount gives money for poorer households to insulate their homes and increase the energy efficiency with solar panels, for example. This is limited by who can access it and which companies are allowed to do the work and needs to be expanded. Scrapping the £153 average “green levy” on energy bills, without supporting household energy-saving measures, gives a short-term bung, like the recent £150, but would do nothing to address the underlying problem of many homes needing to be more efficient in the long term.
Plastic Campaign 16th -22nd May
How about this being a local village Campaign? Maybe in each area, we could put all your plastic waste in one big heap for a photo and a letter to the Minister? You can also sign up to the Big Plastic Count – billed as the UK’s biggest investigation into household plastic waste. Ask your Council how much plastic waste they collect and what happens to it. Together we can gather new game-changing evidence that will push the government to tackle the plastic crisis. Will you join too? https://thebigplasticcount.com/share/email
Find out more here: https://thebigplasticcount.com
Got any paper £20 and £50 notes?
The Bank of England has confirmed the September deadline for using old £20 and £50 notes. Visit the bank to change them. Polymer notes are harder to counterfeit. For a quiz question, the new notes carry pictures of the artist J.M.W. Turner and mathematician, Alan Turing.
Nominate your Unsung Hero for a Good Citizen Award from Lincolnshire County Council – last chance for 2022!
Say thank you with a nomination before the end of Friday 6 May www.lincolnshire.gov.uk. Categories include Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year (aged under 22), Community Group and Couple or Pair of the Year.
Reed Bunting male singing in Dunston Fen |
Local Plan- Resetting the planning rules
You just have time to put in a couple of comments before the deadline on May 9th. My response has been on lack of control of urban growth, especially since facilities and services are already struggling – our roads and NHS, for example. My second main concern is the change to a presumption in favour of turbines. We can always say ‘yes’, but this takes away much of our ability to say ‘no’. I have held a number of meetings with Parish Councils and public on the matter and my full response is on the web. www.lincolnshireindependents.org
High Time to improve highways
Road condition is by far the most important work that highways does, and also shows the least satisfaction, dropping to a new low. In a recent survey, only 18% of people were satisfied with the speed of repair and 23% on the quality of repair. About half the significantly increasing number of complaints were upheld at least in part, costing money that would be better spent on repairs.
Performance is reviewed quarterly. Many of our unclassified roads are below standard (29%), putting us in the bottom ten Councils in the country. I am calling for improvement to specific roads, highlighted by each Parish Council. We have had some success, and more to do.
Highways are working at South Hykeham this week.
Repairs to the road on the A607 Bridge over the Leadenham bypass will take 6 weeks from July 27th.
Holding Highways to Account
Fixmystreet.com is still the best place to report what is needed, so the location is clear. On specific repairs, I use your reports on fixmystreet.com to highlight areas where the contractor, Balfour Beaty is failing and need to get the job done at once. Balfour have struggled with staffing, but we are holding them to their contract, so they have had to sub-contract in part. We have been using the new Pothole Pro from JCB that does repairs better, cheaper and faster, and we need it more in order to keep up with repairs.
Best Wishes and thank you for all you continue to do in our communities and your kind support.
Marianne
Marianne Overton MBE
Working together to support people and planet
Events
Huge thanks to everyone who supported our Easter Event in Metheringham. It was very well organised by new Lincolnshire Independent Councillor, Amelia Bailey (front left below) and well attended, with over a hundred children entering the Easter Egg Hunt. Fantastic!
Some May Events
8th Coleby Car Boot
8th Harmston Spring Fair 11am-4pm
10th Norton Disney Archaeology on line event 7pm
11th Coleby Library and Coffee Morning 10.30am
14th Graffoe Link Tea, Navenby Methodist Church 2.30-4pm
15th Aubourn Hall Gardens open £8
16th Boothby Graffoe Parish Meeting 7.30pm
20th Big Conference on Pollinators, Epic Showground 9.30am-3pm £27.50 including lunch National Speakers, Knepp Estate, Peter Lundgren, Isobel Wright. events@coloniarotary.co.uk
21st Navenby Methodist Church Tea 2-4pm
21st Boothby Graffoe Plants Sale on Henson’s lawn 2pm
24th Shep’s Quiz Harmston Memorial Hall 8pm
27th A celebration of Royal Music and Verse Welbourn Music Appreciation Group at St Chads, Welbourn donation 7pm
28th Coffee Morning, St Peter’s Navenby 10.30-12
28th Plants and Patisseries, Welbourn Village Hall 10am-3pm
29th Ikebana Exhibition at Fulbeck Village Hall 11am-3pm
30th Praise, prayer and puddings at Navenby Methodist Church 6.30pm
31st Small space gardening at Mrs Smith’s Cottage 3-4pm
Out Walking? Try www.walkingengland.co.uk/lincs to download maps and information on local groups.
Useful Information is on the next two pages.
Local Spring Pictures to bring a smile!
Useful Information
EU transition
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Covid support Groups
A huge thank you to our local volunteers
Amazing work done by willing volunteers delivering food, medicines and offering neighbourly support.
Business Advice is free from NKDC Phil Means on 07920 472671 www.businessnk.co.uk @BusinessNK www.businesslincolnshire.com
Monthly webinars are on www.teamlincolnshire.com
First Aid Course online
St John Ambulance stjohnambulance@email.sja.org.uk
Parish Offices for local support and information
Navenby Venue Tuesday to Friday 10-noon
Witham Office at Bassingham in the Hammond Hall,
LN5 9HQ 01522 789758 Open Mon, Wed, Thurs 9-1pm
Local Police Statistics https://www.police.uk/
Access to Wellbeing Services and Care
Covid Helpline continues 01522 782189
The Carers service 01522 782224
carers_team@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Support for Adult care is available 01522 782155
Supporting People 01522 782140 www.wellbeinglincs.org
Umbrellas events supporting all ages with additional needs and their families umbrellaslincoln@outlook.com
#EveryMindMatters advise on coping with anxiety and improving your mental health: https://qoo.ly/35q2xs
Mental health www.connecttosupport.org
Bereavement Helpline St Barnabus 0300 303 1897
tracy.tuffs@stbarnabashospice.co.uk
Befriending Service Lincolnshire YMCA 01529 301965
www.citizensadvice.org.uk 0800 1448444 free 8am-6pm
Church Services
Www.graffoechurches.co.uk with Michelle Godbold
Christine Goldsmith rectorleadenham@gmail.com
Navenby Methodist Church 01522 685226 http://lincolnmethodist.org.uk/circuit-services-weekly-live-stream/ David.lawton@methodist.org.uk
Bassingham Church Facebook page
Venue Finder
420 Lincolnshire Village halls are registered here. www.lincscommunitybuildings.org.uk
Useful Advice for Charities
https://www.charityhowto.com/blog/
To protect a house or business against flooding
http://www.marydhonau.co.uk/information/how-do-i-protect-my-home-from-flooding/
Roadworks www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/transport-and-
roadworks@lincolnshire.gov.uk Twitter #lincscc roads
Register to vote or get a postal vote
Search “Postal vote .Gov” or link here.
Community Larders
Sleaford Community Larder at the Newlife Centre
http://www.communitylarder.co.uk/
Bassingham Church last Thurs monthly, donate before 11.30am Parishioners can collect a box 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Help save lives and keep countryside clean
Report Potholes 01522 782070
http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/potholes
Or use “Fix my street” on line – works well.
Report Litter 01529 414155
customer_services@n-kesteven.gov.uk
Report illegal parking 01522 511142 or
ParkingServices@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Adult Concern 01522 782151
Police: Sgt Ken Whyte, plus PCSO’s 101 or www.police.uk
07973 846537/235/5827
Floodline 24/7 on 01522 782082
Highways, Transport and Travel
Good newsletter from lincscountycouncil@gmail.com
Roadworks www.one.network lincolnshire roadworks.org
Transport www.accesslincoln.co.uk shows all the options, or ask accesslincoln@lincolnbig.co.uk 01522 581906
Call Connect 8.30am – 7pm Weekdays and to 5pm Saturdays 0345 234 33 44 or 01522 553143 www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/callconnect/35955.article
Dial a ride 01522 544983 Disabled door to door
Car-sharing www.lincshare.co.uk
Trains www.thetrainline.com
Facebook Hykeham town rural NPT T @hykeham NPT
Buses www.lincsbus.info or Traveline 0871 200 22 33
Mobile Library 01522 782010 or www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Planning on line
See and comment on applications to get your voice heard. Search “planning on line north Kesteven”
Local Plan www.central-lincs.org.uk 01529 308084
Village websites
Withamstaple.com; yourbassingham.co.uk
www.carltonlemoorland.org.uk www.facebook.com/groups/WhatOnInNocton
www.facebook.com/groups/455116074527966/ Navenby and Wellingore business parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk
www.harmston.info www.navenby.net dunstondossier.org.uk nocton.blogspot.co.uk
Welbourn, Leadenham and Coleby are on the LCC site E.g. https://leadenham.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Branston www .tucann.co.uk/the-sheepwash-times Branston Library 01522 880426
County Events- Good web page here
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk search on “county news”
Wheelchair loan: No Name Lodge Geoff Nelson 788213
Young People Grants Carlton Le Moorland 07943760155
Ukraine Refugee Support
- Information homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk and in Lincolnshire www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ukraine
- Matching Service https://resetuk.org/
- The Wellbeing Lincs service can be accessed by Ukrainian arrivals or their host families to get further advice and support. Wellbeing@e-lindsey.gov.ukor calling 01507 613044 office hours.
- Local facebook network for Ukraine https://www.facebook.com/groups/654279172451678
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hurlnet
- Donate: Support for refugees already here, I suggest the Lincolnshire Community Foundation
www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/LincolnshireCF-Ukraine
- British Red Cross https://donate.redcross.org.uk
Central Lincolnshire Local Plan
- Consultation Papers: https://central-lincs.inconsult.uk/CLLP.Proposed.Submission./consultationHome?fbclid=IwAR3du7HD3ZlkqETrkCVjIy9crrpQHoN-YVCCfl4BgT-bkRyOy1t0aMq9o3E
- Meeting papers including our questions and answers
- https://democracy.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=729&MId=8950
Grants for Energy Efficiency
Insulation may save up to 40% of your bill, so well worth having. There are grants if you get really stuck with your bills. The Citizens Advice Bureau is really helpful and the website has a geat page on “grants for insulation” www.citizensadvice.org.uk 0808 278 7942. Veterans www.turn2us.org.uk
Bassingham has a relief fund for residents 07801899615
Carlton le Moorland’s Young Person’s Trust 07943760155
Supporting Local Heritage
Mrs Smith’s Cottage, East Road, Navenby
Open Friday to Monday noon to 4pm Volunteers welcome
Inspiring Children to Care
West Kesteven Wildlife Watch has a new calendar of events out. Running since 1991 aimed at children 7 to 13, children enjoy learning about our local environment and wildlife. Stars and planets, bees, summer camp, birds, wild walks to discover things, making and doing. Contact me or Jean Martin on 01636 626176 or jcmartin0448@gmail