Mick Grant

Last week I attended the first The Alliance meeting of 2008 in Port Talbot, Wales.  I attended the meeting representing North Lincolnshire and the future of the steel industry was among many issues discussed.

The meeting was held in the town hall which I have pictured above. I also took a photo of the scene just outside the hotel room.

Also discussed at the meeting was the possibility of National Lottery funding being distributed to London for the 2012 Olympics rather than North Lincolnshire.  The Alliance claims £2,175-million in Lotto funding is to be diverted to the London Olympics. This is the equivalent to £35 per head for the entire population and means £5.7-million would be missing from North Lincs. The Alliance has agreed to look into the extent to which the Lottery monies being diverted to London for the 2012 Games would be at the expense of grants in other areas.

I think it is only right and proper that Lottery cash is used to fund part of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Games will bring investment to the UK and there is the chance that North Lincolnshire will be able to play host to athletes as they train and prepare for the events. However, there will be many, many people from North Lincolnshire who play the lottery with the dream of winning a life-changing sum of money. And it is unfair if they should be snubbed when cash is redistributed to groups. £5.7-million is a lot of money and would make a massive difference to groups and projects in North Lincolnshire. Why should London be allowed to keep all of the money when people from across the country play the Lottery?

I am pleased the shops on Everest Road are now coming down. It has blighted residents for years and years and I am pleased something is now being done about it. I remember signing the decision record when Labour was in power pre-2003 and it should have carried on but under the Tories it never did.  However, since Labour regained control we have worked hard as ward councillors to push this through and I am pleased the shops have now been demolished.

The state of the road surface on Ashby High Street is absolutely atrocious. Between Bottesford Lane and Everest Road it needs resurfacing. I would urge residents to get in touch and let us know what they think should be done.

 I would also encourage residents to report faulty street lights.  People can either phone up or fill in a form on the internet and then as a council we can repair them. To report problems with street lights, illuminated signs and bollards, visit http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/NorthLincs/Transportandstreets/roads/reportform.htm   Alternatively you can call 01724 298517 during normal working hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm Friday).