Mick Grant

The Youth Build scheme adopted by the council on Mallalieu Court, Scunthorpe, is a fantastic idea. It allows young people to help build a property, which they can then live in, and develop a skill they can put to good use in the future.

I have heard there are a few people based around the Cherry Tree Grove area of Ashby who are concerned about the scheme as one is due to start there. I would hope to ease their concerns as I feel they are an excellent way to help our local young people. There are already two in Brigg and another in Barton and I welcome the efforts of Longhurst Housing Association in setting them up.

I have blogged previously about the possibility of spending some money redeveloping Westcliff Precinct. Work is going on between Spawforth's and North Lincolnshire Homes' development group working on  the last bit of the masterplan. Although there is still work to be done this is a positive step and hopefully we should be talking to the Housing Corporation in October about putting in a bid for the work at the precinct.

This is a long awaited development and the investment is much needed to improve the area further. I hope things can work out and I hope the cash becomes available to make it happen.

In a previous blog I wrote about an issue picked up by The Alliance regarding the fair distribution of Lottery cash. In total £2,175-million will be diverted to the Olympics, the equivalent to £35 per head of the entire population and The Alliance has taken the issue up to ensure that everyone benefits from Lottery cash and not just London.

I attended a meeting of The Alliance in Nottingham earlier this month and I was delighted to hear the group had found a MP to take up our cause and put forward an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Parliament. Hopefully this will give the issue the chance to be discussed in the Commons.