Karl McCartney MP, the Member of Parliament for the City of Lincoln, has expressed his disappointment at Labour Councillors, elected to the City of Lincoln Council, who have indicated that they will not be available to attend the Lincoln Major Works Programme at Lincolnshire County Council’s Chambers in Newland, Lincoln, on Thursday, 10 July, as there will be a Unison strike and they refuse to cross the picket line.
Over the next three to four years, Lincoln is set to receive a multi-million pound investment for numerous transport infrastructure schemes in and around Lincoln. With the impending developments being planned to commence in the coming months, Lincolnshire County Council have invited elected representatives from the City of Lincoln Council, West Lindsey District Council and North Kesteven District Council to a workshop - the Lincoln Major Works Programme - in which they will update the attendees of all the schemes due to take place, and discuss the impact that these works will inevitably have on the movements of traffic around the City. Once completed, it is anticipated these improvement works will greatly benefit Lincoln and those within it. The County Council hopes the attendees will be able to see the long term advantages that these major enhancement works will have for Lincoln and the City’s businesses.
The major work programme will consist of the following schemes:-
- Newark Road/Brant Road/ Rookery Lane
- Whisby Road
- Brayford Wharf East
- Lincoln High Street
- Canwick Road
- East / West Link Road
Karl McCartney MP said: “It is extremely regrettable that these City of Lincoln Labour Councillors are unwilling to represent their electors at what is a very important event.
“The Lincoln Major Works Programme is an opportunity for Lincolnshire County Council to give elected Councillors, officers and others reassurance and clarity by sharing plans and information of the upcoming works which will shortly commence in and around our City.
“It is immensely disappointing, and extremely disrespectful to their electors in Lincoln, to receive responses from these Lincoln City Labour Councillors stating that, as there is a Unison strike that day, they will not be available as they refuse to cross the picket line.
“One has to ask whether Unison are being allowed to run the City Council? Constituents elect local Councillors, not Union reps. What happens if a strike over pay for Officers (which Councillors should not be involved in) becomes protracted? Who would steer the City Council if elected Councillors are effectively on strike?
“Let’s be clear: Labour’s elected representatives - whether in Lincoln or at a national level - cannot stand up for Britain against the noisy demands of unions, who would hurt British business if they were given the opportunity. Nor can they stand up to their own Party who want to spend, borrow and tax more.
“This strike is more evidence of the unions writing policy for the Labour Party. Similarly, Lincoln’s Labour Councillors’ non-attendance at The Lincoln Major Works Programme on Thursday is another example of Labour putting the interests of their Trade Unions ahead of the interests of their Constituents.”
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For further information, please contact Karl McCartney MP at [email protected] / 020 7219 7221.