Victoria Atkins welcomes the extra funding secured from central government by the county’s MPs – and Lincolnshire County Council’s decision to save local bus services with the money.
Since Christmas, Victoria and other Lincolnshire MPs have lobbied Ministers to increase the proposed funding settlement for Lincolnshire.
Their hard work paid off when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt. Hon. Greg Clarke MP, announced that Lincolnshire would receive an extra £7.7 million up to 2018.
Last week, Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) decided to spend some of the money on maintaining bus services in our local area, including routes covering Binbrook, Louth, Alford and the coast.
Victoria said,
“I am delighted that, through the efforts of Lincolnshire Members of Parliament in Westminster, we have been able to secure additional funding from central government of £5.18 million in 2016/17 and an extra £2.57 million in 2017/18 compared with the provisional settlement for local councils.
Rural and coastal areas such as in the constituency of Louth & Horncastle should not have to shoulder a greater share of the burden of savings. This is a point I have made in the House of Commons and with senior Government Ministers. I am delighted our arguments have been listened to and have resulted in an improved settlement for our county. I particularly welcome the response to our calls to recognise the important priority - and growing costs - of caring for our elderly population, as well as the impact that distance has in such a large county as Lincolnshire.
Our hard work has paid off and will have a direct benefit in our villages and towns as LCC has now been able to protect these vital services. The loss of such services would have had a serious impact in the constituency – and many constituents had contacted me with their concerns. I am really pleased therefore, that Lincolnshire MPs and councillors have been able to find a way of preserving these vital services.
I will continue to work closely with local councils at all levels and other Lincolnshire MPs to make sure the people of Lincolnshire receive a fair deal.”