Letter writers from Stamford, Spalding, Grantham and Rutland share their views with LincsOnline
Readers have once again had plenty to say on what’s in the news.
Here we share some of the letters, emails and comments that have come in over the week, including this cartoon from John Elson.
Send your letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk
The risk to local assets
The Rutland County Council has just agreed their new balanced budget for 2025 / 2026. A challenging feat, to quote the deputy prime minister in her current White Paper on Devolution: “The way local government is funded currently is outdated, inefficient, and poor value for money, based on funding formulas that have not been updated in a decade.”
In a small county of Rutland the current funding from Government puts such a strain on finances to provide statutory services and local services.
When 79% of funding for Rutland County Council comes from council tax you can easily understand Rutland having the highest council tax in the country. Other councils typically receive 56% of funds from council tax.
The county of Rutland population is 41,000 and not all are council taxpayers, therefore you can see for the next three years there is unlikely to be a reduction in council tax.
There will not be a Rutland County Council after 2028.
The current county council budget states they must make savings of £9.1m in 2025/2026 and £14.6m by 2027/2028. This equates to 10% and 16% gross revenue.
But this is against a backdrop of extras demands on services, rising costs, inflation. Demands on current staffing to finish the Local Plan and Devolution planning.
This is why local taxpayers must scrutinise any decisions made by the county council involving capital investment, staffing, equipment procurement to ensure when devolution finally takes place these decisions are only beneficial in the short term.
The constant demand to save money should not come at the expense of disposing of local assets valued by the community. If I can give an example :- Plans to sell off the current council headquarters and move for the council to be incorporated in the county museum premise with substantial money spent to make the necessary changes.
The current headquarters after devolution will in all intents and purpose not be required.
The current headquarters is a local asset and should be protected and not be disposed off so that the balance sheet can be more sustainable. This action benefits no one and should be resisted. The council should look at ways it can be used more widely by the community taking into account. It is more valuable as a community asset.
Likewise the proposed decision to close Ryhall Library.
The Government White Paper quotes: “We will give communities stronger tools to shape the future of their local areas, including through a strong new right to buy and maintain beloved community assets.
“The loss of shared community forums, places and institutions – whether it be local news outlets, community cafes, youth clubs, pubs, historic buildings, libraries or sport facilities – has eroded a sense of local civic pride and contributed to a feeling of decline in neighbourhoods and high streets.
“This has left people feeling as if their lives, and the places they call home, have slipped out of their control.”
Some aspects of devolution should be welcomed but not all.
So I say keep a scrutinising eye on Rutland County Council and the decisions they make in an effort to save money. Make sure that they do not make the mistake of selling off the family silver and leave the local community poorer in the future.
Paul Douglass
Ermine Rise, Great Casterton
In praise of Mama Liz’s
My band “The Amber Squad” recently played The Voodoo Lounge at the institution that is Mama Liz’s in Stamford. Also on the bill that night were our pals “The Sleepers” hailing from North Lincolnshire. Following their comments and those of many others on the night, I felt compelled to put together a letter of thanks to Michael and the crew at Mama’s.
Any dealings we have had with Michael, on this and other occasions, have always been efficient, pleasurable and highly professional. The organisation from promotion and ticket sales through to door arrangements, lighting and sound have always been top notch. The sound engineers really know their stuff and setting up and sound checking are both spot on. The house PA and gear result in a great sound on the night. There were also eight bottles of mineral water on the stage for band members at set up – how many organisers would think of that?
After set up, ourselves and The Sleepers dined upstairs at Mama Liz’s restaurant (as did many others attending the gig) and we all agreed that the food was highly delicious – my fave’ the Jerk chicken was “off the scale” in terms of flavour and quality. Around the table, the guys from The Sleepers were enthusing over the venue, professionalism and quality food and drink on offer and agreeing that they surely wished they had a similar venue in the area that they live in.
Despite it being a Thursday night, the gig was extremely well attended and the bands and punters alike agreed that it was an absolutely brilliant evening.
At a time when live music venues are closing on an almost daily basis, we in Stamford are so lucky to have such a vibrant, thriving venue as Mama Liz’s. It has truly become an institution, and myself and my band mates in The Amber Squad would like to sincerely thank Michael, Liz and their staff for all of the hard work and dedication that goes into running such a superb live music venue, not forgetting the bar/DJ floor and superb restaurant to boot.
Richard Beechey
Stamford
Eyesore projects need finishing
Having lived in Stamford all my life, I am concerned by the number of unfinished building projects that are an eyesore in our town.
There is the site at the top of Nag’s Head Passage, the one on East Street, the old Darby and Joan hall, the former Newage factory on Barnack Road and now Barclays Bank in Broad Street.
I would like the owners of these sites to take greater responsibility for the way Stamford looks and sort out these untidy sites by finishing their projects. Either that or they should have them taken off them by compulsory purchase.
Garry Baker
St Martin’s Close, Stamford
Square pegs and round holes
Last weekend my grandson did what 150,000 of us did last year and misfuelled his car, petrol into diesel.
He felt foolish, as we all would, but surely it’s not beyond the wit of man to make this practice impossible? Has the industry not heard of the old saying: “You can’t put a square peg into a round hole?”
Duncan Lingard
Princes Road, Stamford
No decision on the future of base
I read your article about the meeting to discuss the PWOG barracks which is being organised by the Conservative candidate in the coming elections. As far as I am aware the original plan was launched by the previous government who announced the closure of the base for 2024. It was then handed over to Homes England (a government run body) who put in a provisional planning submission (S21/0706). It was considered by the previous district council in 2021. The current government have removed Homes England and handed control back to the Defence Insfrastructure Organisation (DIO). DIO held two days of public meetings in November 24 where they disclosed that the plans to close the base were delayed as the construction on alternative locations were behind plan and a date of 2028 mentioned but was not confirmed. They also shared that nothing is certain at the moment until following the defence review that is currently underway. They also disclosed that no plans now existed (as the original plans would by now have expired).
So, there is nothing concrete to discuss at this time.
Carol Markwell
Grantham
Why does he still hold post?
I was surprised to see that Councillor Tim Harrison has breached the SKDC Councillor Code of Conduct on numerous occasions. The findings include bringing his office and the council into disrepute, showing disrespect to another councillor and disclosing confidential information. Given the seriousness of these breaches, why is he still chairing the Governance and Audit Committee, one of the council’s most important roles as I understand it? Surely, a position that oversees transparency and accountability should be held to the highest standards. What message does this send about integrity in local government?
Rob Jacobs
Pickworth, Sleaford
Countryside could be better used
Two rival systems of energy generation have been announced around Grantham recently — solar farms generating electricity and a biomass plant producing biomethane gas. The solar farms convert sunlight into electricity from the sacrificial waste of top-grade agricultural land while biomass uses crops grown on other farming land used after each harvest; no land wasted.
The privately financed biomass plant will provide renewable energy, using local farm produce, for a private company and is sustainable in all weathers. The Chinese made solar panel systems produce electric power which is non-storable and unsustainable. They are not stand alone installations and require massive back-up infrastructure, pylons, cables, et cetera. I think Lincolnshire countryside can be better used.So for me it’s a win-win for biogas systems as crops they use absorb CO2 when growing also at night and when the sun refuses to shine, solar systems shut down. All while solar is being subsidised by us gullible taxpayers.
Rod Hatherill
Grantham
Send your letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk
