Flood Funding
With the flood money agreed, the County Council is seeking Government approval for Southwell's flood mitigation project. If approved, work on the defences could start in 2018. The total cost is coming in at nearly £1.8 million.
The Town Council was the first to offer flood mitigation funding. After the July 2013 floods, the Council, run by the Liberal Democrats, committed £40,000 straight away. The subsequent Council increased it to £75,000 two years later. Further money was promised once the flood mitigation scheme was finalised. Now, 4½ years later, £120,000 has been pledged.
The Government has offered £720,000, Notts County Council £600,000 and the District Council finally agreed to £220,000 in September this year. In addition, the Flood Forum has generously offered to raise £125,000.
Liberal Democrat Councillors have been very concerned that the final flood mitigation measures have not been published nearly 4½ years after the event and they continue to question several aspects of the proposals seen to date. It seems that 60 houses will be protected, the rest relying on "property level protection". It is not clear what measures there are to protect Halloughton and Nottingham Roads. There is a lack of transparency in the costings and the Council and the public have been excluded from meaningful involvement, including access to the flood model to assess planning applications.
We will continue to try to keep a close watch on proposals and fight for the transparency the town deserves. Focus will report.
Local Election Results May 2023
A spectacular set of elections both nationally and locally here in Newark and Sherwood!
Overall Lib Dem gains were 405 nationally, which posed a problem for Sky News, whose swingometer apparently was not able to contemplate a set of gains of this magnitude. We exceeded 'Exceeded Expectations'!
Our local gains at the district level saw the addition of our third District Councillor with the victory of Keith Melton in Trent Ward. We also kept 2 of 3 councillors for Southwell, now Karen Roberts and Peter Harris. We were encouraged to see the increase in our share of votes in other seats where we were able to field candidtes. Congratulations to everyone.
We had a very good performance in Southwell Town Council, gaining 10 of the 14 seats for which there were candidates, with 6 of these won in elections and 4 being uncontested. Two Conservatives, one Labour candidate and one Independent were also successful. One place on the council remains to be appointed to.
The Conservatives had a terrible set of district and parish elections, losing about half of their district councillors and many PCs. The final DC result was Conservative 14, Labour 11, Independents 11 (8 for Independents for Newark and 3 for other Independents) and Lib Dems 3. Discussions will take place for some time on the composition of the new administration, which is unlikely to include Conservatives for the first time since 2007.
On behalf of the executive, we are extremely grateful to everyone who stood as candidates, as well as everyone who performed the various roles which were necessary for the campaigns. We are a small party and many of you worked very hard.
We are very grateful for their past work to councillors who have stood down at this election, including Peter Scorer and Stuart Thompstone. Malcolm Brock has stood down from the District, though continues to serve on Southwell TC.
We welcome new members to the party, who were motivated by this campaign. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Trent Ward. Upton support has to be singled out, evidenced for anyone who drove through, by the huge number of LD stakeboards and posters.
Philip Barron
Chair, Newark Liberal Democrats
7 May 2023