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Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill writes about farmers and county infrastructure




We need to do all we can to defend our farmers, writes Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council.

There was a farmers demonstration in Lincoln this morning highlighting the pressures the industry is under particularly since the policy changes of the new government.

Many tractors turned up with support as those involved with agriculture continued their rolling demonstrations pointing out the importance of us all of a healthy rural economy.

Lincolnshire County Council leader Coun Martin Hill
Lincolnshire County Council leader Coun Martin Hill

An increasing number of smaller family farms were already finding it increasingly difficult with changes to the subsidy regime, environmental legislation and shortage of suitable workers.

The chancellor’s decision to increase employer national insurance, living wage and inheritance tax measures have felt like a hammer blow to most family owned businesses in Lincolnshire, many of whom are now fearing for their future.

The county council decided to step up help and allocated an extra £50,000 to provide additional finance and advisory support to businesses' plans for the future. This will include impartial one to one advice or group workshops whichever is preferred.

The sessions will be coordinated by the Lincolnshire Growth Hub and could include issues such as managing cashflow, diversification and succession planning.

Also, we have donated £5,000 more to a Lincolnshire farming charity, the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network which does excellent work helping farmers who are in need of support with general financial advice or mental health issues. Farming has one of the highest suicide rate of most industries.

Having a vibrant local economy with countless businesses is vital for our future and without them there will be fewer jobs, money for services and general wellbeing.

Then there is the issue of food security. Lincolnshire produces much of the country’s food in particular vegetables, cereals and poultry. Within an increasingly unstable world with nations at war and major powers flexing muscles and threats of trade wars, is it really sensible or in our national interest to hope to rely on foreign countries to supply food and reliable energy?

Whilst accepting that some development is inevitable, the council will do all it can to defend our landscape and way of life from inappropriate overdevelopment which threatens to ruin much of what we cherish.

Most of the proposed new infrastructure will not be for residents here but to supply potential shortages elsewhere in the south of England. Also relying solely on intermittent renewable technology doesn’t make sense presently as it increases cost to households and industry. On a still cold night we have no resilience.

We are also challenging National Grid on their claim that huge 400 feet pylons would be cheaper than cables on the sea bed. It doesn’t make sense. Despite repeated requests and effectively being a public body they refuse to provide proper details despite a dramatic detrimental change to the landscape.

There is a risk that we will see large pylons in South Lincolnshire.

Whilst accepting that some development is inevitable, the council will do all it can to defend our landscape and way of life from inappropriate overdevelopment which threatens to ruin much of what we cherish.



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