2007 August Report

WHAT DOES MY COUNCILLOR DO FOR ME?

AUGUST 2007 Report from Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton


Flooding
Causing great distress, unprecedented floods invaded houses in Leadenham and in Welbourn, also blocking the A607 as fire engines sought to pump out the water. Highways staff were much occupied clearing blocked drains in the short term and will then be working on the longer-term improvements in known problem areas of our drainage systems.
Lincolnshire County Council to report flooding and potholes 01522 782070
For updates on flood risk area, the Floodline is 0845 9881188 www.environment-agency.gov.uk
For weather forecasts http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/em

08/07/2007Congratulations to…
The Navenby Archaeology day for a brilliant Roman Day, with archery, finding real Roman coins, marching lessons, spinning and weaving, mosaics and even food. More pictures at www.navenby.net

To Boothby Graffoe for a brilliant summer barbeque. Not a drop of rain in sight!

To West Kesteven Wildlife Watch and the Institute of Biology for their great wildlife weekend at Gibraltar Point. www.iob.org
Congratulations to Branston Booths
Village Hall for winning the Queens Award for voluntary service, the only one in Lincolnshire. I was pleased to serve many long evenings with them working on the successful funding applications and seconded them for this award. Building the hall has been a great achievement for a small village.
The residents of Addison Close met for a Coffeehouse Challenge and raised the roof over a suggestion to sell off the green in Addison Close for more housing. A petition is being raised. I’ve summarised and submitted their views to the NKDC Executive meeting on August 2nd.



Coming soon…
Branston Sheepwash Project Grand Opening, September 8th at 10am

Magna Carta was on display at an exhibition in Virginia Beach, from March 25th to June 18th this year to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first landing of English settlers there. Events taking place that week are starting on July 27th 7pm (refreshments) 7.30 pm The Magna Carta lecture, in the Chapter House. Also tours of the Cathedral and photographic exhibition in the Chapter House. 01522 561601

School Surplus Places
Two advisory panels cover our area, I chair one and sit on the other. These have been created since the recent outcry over school closures, some of which I also fought and the external panel supported us. Our excellent small schools are more expensive to run per pupil, so we need to demonstrate their value. Our area has had a lot more housing and numbers are not falling as much as other places.

Regional Planning
The Regional Plan lays out the planning guidelines with which NKDC will have to comply. It proposes 40% increase in housing over the next 20 years. I wrote to object to the plan and attended and spoke at the Examination in public, pointing out that whilst some development is welcomed, there are major difficulties of excessive increased development without adequate infra-structure, especially congestion, flooding and protection of the quality of rural village life.

Reducing our carbon footprint
LCC has agreed a Strategy and Implementation Plan to reduce their emissions by 20% from the 2005-6 baseline, by 31 March 2012.

Trade Waste
Complaints from pubs and village halls revealed that NKDC takes all their waste to landfill. Our independent group has been investigating with staff and a fascinating tour of the Caythorpe recycling Centre with Chris Mountain. Caythorpe could take more local waste in place of that coming from further afield. We are working on it!

Wishing you an enjoyable August and safe driving!

Marianne

Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton
Independent County Councillor for Branston and Navenby Division
and for Cliff Villages Ward of North Kesteven District Council
Tel: 01400 273323 www.independentvoice.org.uk