Grantham, Spalding and Stamford letter writers 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 on Easter and we wish all our readers a lovely Easter weekend.
Send your letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk
The town council is making a difference
As a former charter trustee and newly elected town councillor I feel it necessary to respond to Mike Cook's letter in the Journal last week. He is unfortunately incorrect to say the town council is no different to the charter trustees.
Like any other town council we can now submit comments to planning applications which the charter trustees never could.
We can also take on responsibility for the town's assets which the charter trustees could not. Discussions have just started regarding this with SKDC.
The town council may be consulted on other matters and may create a strategic plan for Grantham.
Following public consultation we may also raise a precept for a specific purpose. For example to hold an event or provide equipment.
The charter trustees could not do that. The town council is democratically elected which the charter trustees was not.
As anticipated, with the restructure of local authorities, the role of the town ouncil will increase.
We will have our foundations in place only just in time to manage whatever is thrown at us.
Councillor Charmaine Morgan
Town and district councillor (Ind)
We must vote tactically
Labour can’t win in Lincolnshire. I say that not out of tribal loyalty, but as someone who’s watched politics here for long enough to know the score. And while I respect those who support Labour or the Lib Dems, this election isn’t about sending a message. It’s about stopping something worse.
That “something worse” is Reform UK. A party with disturbing ties to Donald Trump - the man who’s been undermining Western unity and Ukraine, praising bullies, and wreaking chaos on markets and pensions alike. Reform haven’t exactly been rushing to condemn any of it.
They’ve also stayed suspiciously quiet about the NHS. I think many of us fear what their agenda might be once in power - whether it’s creeping privatisation or a dismantling of services ordinary people rely on.
If you genuinely want to block Reform from gaining a foothold in Lincolnshire, then the only realistic option is to vote tactically - and that means voting for the candidate best placed to beat them. Like it or not, that’s almost always the Conservative.
I say this with no great enthusiasm. But I’d rather hold my nose than wake up in a few weeks to find Reform councillors being sworn in here. Once they’re in, they won’t be easy to shift.
Oliver Bennett
Rosedale Drive, Grantham
Thank you for your support
Debbie and I would like to thank everyone who supported us on Saturday, April 12, when we were holding our Easter tombola and tabletop sale in the Isaac Newton Centre to raise much needed funds for Doris Banham Dog Rescue.
We raised over £400 on the day and every penny will go directly to our dogs.
We will be in Pets At Home on Saturday morning (April 19) from 9am to 1pm.
Our next table top sale will be in the Isaac Newton Centre on Saturday, May 3 from 8am to 4pm.
We look forward to seeing you and hope you all have a happy Easter.
Anne Lockwood
Volunteer at Doris Banham Dog Rescue
More must be done
There were three consecutive crashes last week alone on the A1. The closure of certain central reservations is great but more needs to be done. I live in Wansford and use the A1 to get to Stamford everyday for school drop off and work. The slip road is not long enough and sometimes cars cannot move over due to people speeding in the fast lane. Lorries often over-take unnecessarily. We must put speed restrictions on the A1 and make the road safer. Please help. People are losing their lives on a daily basis on this road. There must be more that can be done.
Nisha Odedra
Stamford
We’re at the mercy of energy firms
Energy giants have pocketed over £500 billion in profits since the energy crisis started according to an updated analysis of company reports.
Researchers working for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, which the National Pensionners Convention is a part of, examined the declared profits of firms ranging from energy producers, such as Equinor and Shell, through to the firms that control our energy grid, such as National Grid and UK Power Networks, as well as suppliers such as British Gas.
As energy prices increase by 6.4% this month for households across the country, the analysis shows that almost half of the total profits since 2020, £207bn, are generated by firms with extensive involvement in the gas industry. The cost of every unit of gas used will surge by over 10% from this April, meaning the cost of gas is now double what it was in winter 2020/21. The cost of gas not only affects household’s ability to keep warm, but also sets electricity prices up to 40% of the time under energy market rules. Also profiting are the firms and business units responsible for electricity and gas transmission and distribution. These are the “ network costs “ consumers pay for maintaining the pipes and wires of the energy system and are usually paid for through standing charges on energy bills.
But earlier this year, Citizens Advice found that these firms had made an estimated £4billion in extra profits after a “ misjudgement “ by regulator Ofgem. Previous research also found that the same firms underspent on vital grid improvements by almost £1billion. As energy prices remain at levels way above the 2020 benchmark, the energy industry is taking us all for fools. We need politicians and regulators to act to bring down energy bills now.
This means radical reform of the electricity pricing markets, investment in homegrown renewables and taking on the vested interests of an energy industry which makes billions of pounds of profits every year at consumers expense.
In addition, we need to see steps taken immediately to help households reduce energy consumption in a safe way, by improving energy efficiency of buildings. This is why MPs need to push the Chancellor to commit the full £13.2bn funding needed for the Warm Homes Plan through the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Jonathan Bean from Fuel Poverty Action added: “Without radical reforms, millions of us will continue to suffer and die in energy starvation due to inflated energy pricing. We are not getting the benefit of our increasing supply of cheap renewable energy.”
Warm This Winter spokesperson, Caroline Simpson said: “Frankly this is shameful, whilst the whole of the UK struggles with ‘Awful April’, these energy profiteers are celebrating ‘Awesome April’, with their latest results showing they made over half a trillion pounds in profits since 2020.
“It is incomprehensible in so many ways and plain wrong that a mere 20 companies have made so much money out of people’s misery. The industry can spare a few of their many billions to bring down bills, pay for energy efficient homes and switch from oil and gas to save the planet.”
Now more than ever, we need to give everyone in the UK the peace of mind that comes with having energy security from homegrown solar and wind so we’re not at the mercy of either profiteering oil and gas companies or hostile countries. That awful April includes: water bills, up, council tax, up, Broadband, up, TV licence, up, car tax, up, insurance, up, on top of the energy bills and the general cost of living will make survival very difficult for those on limited income.
Rodney Sadd
Crowland
Spring is with us
The smell of Spring is in the air,
and nature's treats are everywhere.
They overwhelm, we stand and stare,
the riverbank no longer bare.
Down the river Witham's view like a dart it deftly flew,
an iridescent bluish tint, a fleeting subtle deadly hint.
Those fish below won't see a thing,
a killer fisher we know as King.
Along the bank the crocus blaze,
to herald Spring's next fertile phase.
Bees now pollinate, birds seek mates,
as nature now regenerates.
We amble slowly, unaware,
then stunned we stand, again we stare.
As sap now stirs the leafless trees,
and snowdrops shiver in the breeze.
Then we spot a snow white pair,
their rears thrust up without a care.
Just swans that plunge their heads to feed,
And nibble down amongst the weed.
Rod Hatherill
Lodge Way, Grantham
