- Visit comes as Karl ensures the dialogue with JLP continues as he seeks to assist the enhanced retail offer in Lincoln
- Andrew Mills will visit City Centre and meet with senior local business and local authority representatives through-out the day
- Possibilities of attracting both a John Lewis store, and hence other Brand-Name Stores to our City, will be discussed
Lincoln’s Member of Parliament, Karl McCartney MP, today welcomes the Acquisition and Development Manager at John Lewis Partnership (JLP), Andrew Mills, to his City of Lincoln Constituency.
Karl has met with and spoken to Andrew and other JLP representatives on a number of occasions over the past 24 months after Lincoln’s Member of Parliament contacted them and other retail business leaders around the Country to explore the potential for locating more High Street Brand Stores, such as John Lewis, in Lincoln.
At Karl’s invitation Andrew will also meet with senior representatives of Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council, the City of Lincoln Council, Lincoln Business Improvement Group, the University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, Lincolnshire Co-operative and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
With the Lindongate proposals now much more advanced than ever before, the redevelopment of the Cornhill Quarter site and significant transport infrastructure improvements planned, including vastly upgraded parking provision, this visit to Lincoln by a senior representative of the John Lewis Partnership is a measure of Karl’s determination to ensure that Lincoln continues to ‘punch its weight’ in respect of it being the County Centre and a historic City complimented by a modern commercial retail offering that those who live, work and visit the City should and could expect.
Karl McCartney MP said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Andrew Mills and John Lewis Partnership to Lincoln today and I am very grateful for the time Andrew and his colleagues have given both me and our City and Business representatives.
“I am looking forward to showing Andrew round our fantastic City Centre locations including Brayford Pool, Waterside, Lindongate and Cornhill Quarter. I am also looking forward to introducing Andrew to various elected representatives of our local authorities, in addition to some senior business leaders of both our City and County.
“John Lewis Partnership has already showed its continued commitment to my City of Lincoln Constituency by having, on the periphery of our City, one of the largest Waitrose stores in our Country. I have sought to build on this commitment by exploring how we can continue to work together for the betterment of my Constituents and the people of Lincolnshire and beyond.
“Personally, I would love to see a John Lewis store in Lincoln. Although there are numerous obstacles and difficulties to overcome before that might become a reality, I believe any such development would be a great success, wherever the location, and would be warmly welcomed by both residents in, and visitors to, our City. As the local Member of Parliament, I will certainly do all I can to work with John Lewis to ensure that that is the case.
“Lincoln is a reinvigorated, growing and historic City with so much potential. We now have two universities, upwards of 15,000 students, and many new businesses. As the Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, I want to do all I can to encourage the growth of our beautiful City and encourage businesses to see the considerable potential of Lincoln.
“I want to ensure, as I promised when I was elected, that be it manufacturing, tourism or retail business opportunities, I will always Put Lincoln First to ensure my constituents enjoy an enhanced environment through the efforts of myself and those who also want to see Lincoln be an even better and more loved City than it already is.”
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For further information, please contact Karl McCartney MP at [email protected] / 020 7219 7221.