Dear Resident,
I hope that you have had a very happy beginning of this New Year, and were able to spend time with your loved ones. Before the new year, I was busy in both Westminster and Scunthorpe, making sure that your voice continues to be heard and shared. I have, of course, kept you up to date with the pressing news that affects Scunthorpe through my Special Updates. However, as 2024 begins, I thought it best to provide you with an update of everything else I got up to since my last update.
It should come as no surprise to you that I have continued to push for our local priorities to be met, fighting for the best interests of Scunthorpe both in Westminster and locally. This includes issues such as the Scunthorpe General Hospital Consultation and Scunthorpe United FC, alongside many other important issues.
Scunthorpe United Football Club
As many residents will be aware, the past few months of 2023 were full of ups and downs for our local football team, Scunthorpe United FC. In September, we heard the worrying news that the club was at risk of closing, followed by the threat of losing their home ground. While there were limited steps I could take in my role as a Member of Parliament, I was absolutely ready to do whatever I could to assist in saving our club.
It was for this reason that I took the time to write to the National League North and the Sports Minister, asking them to intervene wherever possible, in addition to making sure that my concerns were raised with North Lincolnshire Council and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on multiple occasions.
Following our concerns for the future of Scunthorpe United FC, in early October we received the fantastic news that the club was successfully taken over by local businesswoman, Michelle Harness. A few months later, the club’s future was fully protected through the securing of Glanford Park, the home ground of Scunthorpe United! I was absolutely delighted that Government was able to be used to help secure the deal protecting the ground for Scunthorpe United FC and providing opportunities for jobs and homes. Great news for not just supporters but for all local residents. With this fantastic news freshly announced, I was delighted to attend a match in December to celebrate the news.
The past few years and months have been a difficult and tumultuous period for Scunthorpe United, and the fans, players and all staff deserve security and success. Local football clubs such as our own are vital in fostering a strong community spirit, and I am absolutely delighted that the end of 2023 resulted in such a positive outcome for the club. I want to thank Michelle, Council leader Rob Waltham and everyone involved for all their hard work in securing a positive future for Scunthorpe United FC.
Up The Iron!
Scunthorpe General Hospital Consultation
Since my last update, we have also seen our local Integrated Care Board (ICB) introduce a consultation on the change of services provided at Scunthorpe General Hospital, in which they proposed the transfer of the below services to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby:
- Trauma Services
- Specialty Medical Inpatients who will stay for more than 72 hours, specifically in Gastro/Respiratory and Cardiology
- Acute Surgery Inpatients staying at the hospital for more than 24 hours or an inpatient stay is required.
- Paediatric Inpatients
The consultation, ran by Humberside and North Yorkshire ICB, ran between September 2023 and 5th January 2024. I also ran my own survey alongside the consultation, as I stated throughout the process that I would only support change backed by my constituents and I wanted to ensure that your voices were heard. I had an overwhelmingly strong response to my survey, which highlighted the clear opposition that these changes face in our area. Within my survey, 65% of residents highlighted the issue of travel and accessibility to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby as the primary area of impact that the changing of services would have. Other points of concern surrounded parking, mental health impact and financial burden. Most importantly, over 98% of residents stated that they opposed the changes proposed by the ICB.
I stand with residents in their opposition to these changes, and have made my opposition clear to the consultation. My family and I use our local services, so I understand just how important it is to have the care we need on our doorstep. I have since submitted the anonymous responses to my survey to our ICB.
Prior to the closure of the public consultation, I wrote on numerous occasions to hospital bosses to ensure that everyone in the area had the chance to have their say. As many will know, the in-person drop-in for the consultation coincided with torrential rain, in addition to a lack of clarity on how people could submit their views. I wrote to hospital bosses asking them to hold another event, which I am pleased to say they agreed to.
I also wrote to hospital bosses requesting that they extend the consultation due to the important nature of the issue, alongside the incredible strength of feeling that local residents had on the matter. Unfortunately, this was not accepted by the ICB and the consultation ended on 5th January 2024. That being said, I remain hopeful that the views of local residents were made clear during the length of the consultation.
I was also able to speak in the Commons earlier this year, highlighting the consultation and residents’ reactions to it. I was glad to hear that the Government will be meeting with the local trust, and ensuring that residents’ voices will be heard. I’ve also written to the Department to push for their intervention.
I would like to thank everyone who took the time to fill out my survey and the consultation for their contribution to fighting for the best interests of Scunthorpe, and I look forward to hearing the final decision made by the ICB following the consultation.
Watch me fight for our local hospital services in the Commons Chamber.
Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal
Following the announcement of new devolution deal offers across the UK in the Autumn Statement 2023, 27 September marked the signing of an agreement on a devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire. This devolution deal would unite Lincolnshire County, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire under a new mayoral authority, and is great news for our area.
With a devolved authority here in Greater Lincolnshire, local decision makers will be able to better allocate funding with their strong knowledge and understanding of the local area and who works and lives there. This will see an improved focus on how decisions are made on local transport and roads, good quality housing, supporting local jobs and businesses, among many other areas.
The agreement was signed in Scunthorpe, and as we have seen what a positive impact devolution deals have done for other areas of the country, I am excited to see what kind of difference it can make for us.
For those who would like to find out more about the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal, please follow the link below:
Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal
Fly-tipping
I receive significant contact from residents every day on fly-tipping. Particularly in the Crosby/Town area. While it may be easy to blame the council for the issue, we need to recognise that it is the reckless behaviour of some individuals that is causing this problem.
I would strongly encourage you all to report any incidents of fly-tipping to North Lincolnshire Council as soon as you spot them using the council’s online fly-tipping form. The council aims to collect fly-tipped waste within 7 days, but your reports are essential to making that happen. Use the link below to make your report:
Report Fly-tipping in your area
If possible, please include specific details about the location, the duration of the fly-tipping, and even photographic evidence.
If you face any issues following your report, please do feel free to get in touch with me with your reference number, and either myself or a member of my team would be happy to chase up on the issue.
North Lincs and I are committed to taking action, which is the council has implemented a tough stance on environmental crime and is tripling fines for fly-tipping. However, we can't do it alone. We want to send a strong message that these behaviours will not be tolerated.
Remember, this is everyone's problem. Talk to your neighbour’s, educate them about the impacts of fly-tipping, and encourage them to dispose of their waste appropriately. Together, we can make a difference.
Please also find below my progress reports on key local issues:
- Protecting and promoting our world class steel industry
- Improving local health provisions
- Improving local transport links
- Supporting our local businesses and community groups
- Working with our schools
Progress Report: Protecting and promoting our world-class steel industry
As I’m sure many of you will be aware, we heard some very concerning news regarding British Steel’s plans to transition to electric arc furnaces and the potential job losses that may come with that. Following the announcement, I have made it absolutely clear that I do not support this decision, and stand with the steelworkers and the community on this issue. As I shared in my Special Update, I was granted an Urgent Question by the Speaker of the House on the negotiations between British Steel and the Government, and the Government’s position on virgin steelmaking in the UK, and the Minister was summoned to answer for it.
I have additionally been spreading the word on radio and TV, to make my stance absolutely clear. Below, you can see my appearances on TalkTV, BBC Look North and Radio Humberside, in addition to my Urgent Question in the Commons Chamber.
Watch me discuss latest announcement from British Steel on TalkTV.
Watch me appear on BBC Look North to discuss the latest announcement from British Steel.
Listen to me discuss the latest British Steel announcement with BBC Radio Humberside.
Watch me ask my Urgent Question to the House on British Steel negotiations and virgin steelmaking.
Since my Special Update, I have raised further questions in the Commons Chamber including directly to the Prime Minister, twice. I also have written letters to the Prime Minister and other Government departments, while staying in regular contact with the steelworks as this progresses. Not only does this affect British Steel jobs, but it impacts our sovereign capabilities as a nation, and I wanted to make this clear to the Government. I have unapologetically raised this numerous times, and you can see my contributions in Prime Ministers Questions, the Kings Speech Debate and Defence Questions below.
Watch me fight for the steel industry at PMQs.
Watch me continue my campaign for our steelworks in Defence Questions here.
Watch me raise the importance of virgin steelmaking in the King's Speech Debate.
My friend and colleague, Sir Edward Leigh, and I also took the time to jointly push for the Government to retain the ability to make virgin steel. Both of our communities and constituencies would be badly affected by the closure of the blast furnaces, and the entire country would lose the ability to make our own steel from scratch, making us reliant on imports. I’ve been clear that I want the Government to push to keep the blast furnaces for an interim period as a minimum so can explore green ways to run them in the future.
Watch Sir Edward Leigh MP and I raise the importance of the blast furnaces in Scunthorpe in the Commons Chamber.
On top of my spoken contributions in the Commons Chamber, I recently had a meeting with the Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch, to discuss further on our steelworks. I restated that we simply cannot lose the ability to make our own virgin steel, highlighting not only the devastating impact it would have on our town, but the impact it would have on the nation’s sovereign capabilities. I’ve since followed this up in writing and am looking forward to receiving the response.
I also had the opportunity to meet with both North Lincs Council Leader, Rob Waltham, and Industry Minister, Nus Ghani MP. While there, we once again pushed the importance of the steelworks to our local area, and the kind of impact that the changes would have on Scunthorpe and the surrounding area. With the news out of Port Talbot, the importance of Scunthorpe’s blast furnaces has become even more clear. Put simply, the UK must have a virgin steelmaking capability, and Scunthorpe is it!
I stand resolute in my stance with the steelworkers, and strongly believe that this decision goes against the best interests of Scunthorpe. I will continue to press the Government to consider the downfalls of this decision, including the loss of local jobs and failure to retain a sovereign capability.
Progress Report: Improving local health provisions
Access to NHS dentistry is an issue that is continuously raised with me by many of you. I have raised the issue in Parliament previously, pushing for more NHS dentists in North Lincolnshire. We have since had a new minister for dentistry, Andrea Leadsom MP, and I was sure to ask for a meeting with her to ensure these issues are high on her agenda. I absolutely believe that all of my constituents should have proper access to NHS dentistry, and I look forward to seeing Andrea work towards this goal.
Late last year, I had the opportunity to have a meeting with Katie from the Terrence Higgins Trust. The THT is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing the necessary support for those with HIV or other sexual health issues, as well as raising awareness to encourage prevention measures.
Katie and I had a helpful chat about how we can expand on the ‘opt-out’ testing system, which has been an effective way of finding people living with HIV who did not know that they had the virus. The Government has worked successfully to mitigate the effects of HIV for those who are living with it, and now we need a final push to make sure that new infections in the UK are stopped, in line with the Government’s commitment to become the first nation in the world with zero HIV transmissions in 2030.
The Government is delivering on this commitment through the HIV Action Plan, building on the UK’s success in diagnosing over 90 per cent of people who live with HIV and ensuring that over 90 per cent of those who are diagnosed are getting treatment. This is facilitated by the Government’s provision of £20 million to scale up HIV testing among higher risk people, including £3.5 million to deliver a National HIV Prevention Programme between 2021 and 2024.
Late 2023 also saw the Government relaunch their recruitment campaign to help expand our adult social care workforce. Care workers play such a vital role in the lives of vulnerable members of our community, and make a hugely important difference for the wider community. I commend all the work they do for our area and across the country.
It is for this reason that the ‘Made with Care’ campaign is returning for a fourth year to help ensure that the social care sector continues to be delivered. If you’d like to get involved and offer your skills, you can find out more information by following the link below:
Mental health is just as important as physical health. That’s why I was so pleased to have the chance to visit our local Samaritans facilities here in Scunthorpe. The Samaritans are a nationwide charity who help in providing emotional support for all those who may be struggling, and we are lucky enough to have two Samaritans facilities in our area, with those being the shop that raises money to fund their helplines, as well as one of their listening centres.
It was particularly interesting to be able to see both the listening centre and the shop and to meet one of our local 'Samaritans Supporters' to hear about fundraising efforts. Huge congratulations to everyone who recently took part in the abseiling - you're much braver than I am! It's clear that all the volunteers - with their different roles - work together as a team to help people in times of need. They are truly people to be proud of in our area.
If anyone is struggling and feels they need emotional support, I would strongly encourage you to give the Samaritans a call on 116 123. They are always there to help.
Progress Report: Improving local transport links
As many of you will have seen in my Special Update on the matter, we received the fantastic news in November that the Government had asked TransPennine Express to scrap the plans to close railway station ticket offices. This was, of course, absolutely fantastic news, and has ensured that our train station remains fully staffed and accessible for all. A huge thank you is owed to all those that took the time to complete my survey along with the consultation, and highlights the importance of public contribution to matters that impact them.
In order to improve local transport links, improving local transport infrastructure is absolutely essential. This is why I was so delighted to see the installation of new digital bus timetables in key areas of Scunthorpe.
Great communication is part of a great service, and with real-time updates on arrivals and departures for buses, communication between bus companies and passengers will see significant improvements.
These screens exist as part of a wider plan to improve public transport infrastructure across North Lincolnshire, and the first phase of the screen installation includes a large screen at Scunthorpe Bus Station, two screens at Scunthorpe General Hospital (Cliff Gardens side) and two on Broadway in Ashby. I am looking forward to seeing how these screens benefit the passenger experience here in North Lincolnshire!
On top of this, the Government has given an additional £2 million to improve bus services in our area. Bus services are essential in keeping our communities connected for non-drivers, and are the most popular form of public transport. I am so pleased to see the Government continue to support them.
We also recently heard the announcement of Network North following the cancellation of HS2. For the past nine months, I’ve sat on the HS2 Committee and heard some really tough stories of how people have been affected. Now that it’s no longer being built, I asked the Government what they will be doing to make sure affected people have the option to get back their properties and businesses for a fair price.
Watch me question the Government on the actions they are taken for those affected by the cancellation of HS2.
Progress Report: Supporting our local businesses and community groups
In the final months of 2023, we have seen a fantastic amount of funding make a difference for our area.
The Community Grant Fund is a perfect example of this, and I was able to go and see the effect it has had on one of our local cricket clubs! Thanks to the Community Grant Fund, the Hibaldstow Cricket Club was able to invest in a Cricket Bowling Machine that will improve their practice sessions. I must admit I'd never seen a bowling machine before, it was very impressive!
The Community Grant Fund has also provided funding to local bowls clubs, the Shires Bowl Club and Kirton Bowls Club enabling them to buy a better playing surface, a new mower for better green quality, and the creation of a seating area respectively. It is so important that we support community groups such as Kirton Bowls Club, the Shires Bowls Club and Hibaldstow Cricket Club to thrive, allowing residents to enjoy the fantastic facilities we have on offer here in Scunthorpe. I look forward to seeing the difference that this will make for these clubs for many years to come!
The Kirton in Lindsey Society is another fantastic society, holding public meetings and talks, looking to preserve some of the most fascinating and important historical sites and materials we have in our area. Proof of their dedication is shown through their efforts to restore prison doors from Kirton Bridewell, which were built in 1790. Once again, the Community Grant Fund provided essential financial support, with over £2,000 of the fund entrusted to the doors’ restoration.
Thanks to £25,000 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a brand-new, free to use, multi-level indoor soft play area has also been installed in St John’s Market in Scunthorpe. The market-themed play area will be open 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has also helped out local businesses, including Trent Refractories. North Lincolnshire’s 3-year investment plan was validated by the Government last year, meaning that our area will be receiving £6.5 million worth of investment from the fund. Trent Refractories received £14,000 of this, helping them expand into international markets and win new clients. It contributed to their programme to relaunch their company as refractory ambassadors, with new website and digital marketing, as well as an upgrade in their internal systems.
It's fantastic to see how Government funds can help support local jobs such as those at Trent Refractories, and I look forward to seeing the continued difference the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will make across North Lincolnshire.
My team and I have also worked hard to make sure that funding is accessed by community groups that need it. Most recently, we were successful in securing funding for the incredible Hibaldstow Hatchlings community group. The funding enabled them to get some much-needed toy for the kids, as well as hired space. A massive thank you to group organiser Layla Wollard, who was with us every step of the way to make the process as seamless as possible. Layla works really hard to keep the group going, and I know how important her work is from speaking to parents and grandparents.
If any other community groups are interested in receiving support for their funding bids, you can follow the link below for more information and I would be more than happy to see how we can help!
My Community Grant Funding Form
It’s absolutely fantastic to see the impact that local grants can have on community groups in our area. We should all want this area to flourish and look as good as we know it is. This is why town and parish councils across North Lincolnshire are being invited to apply for a share of £30,000 that’s been made available to spruce up their local communities. The scheme, which is part of the North Lincolnshire in Bloom programme, had fantastic take-up last year and 40 groups were given funding.
Groups have until noon on 22 January 2024 to apply for a share of the funding. Application forms were available from the week commencing 18th December 2023. For information and an application form, you can contact the community grants team on 01724 297212 or communitygrants@northlincs.gov.uk.
Scunthorpe more generally has also received a vast amount of funding in the final months of 2023.
In October, it was announced that we will be one of the 55 towns across the country that will be receiving money from the Government as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns. Scunthorpe will be getting £20m investment to support our town’s future. A long-term plan will be drawn up by a Towns Board made up of local community leaders and employers who know our town and care about its future.
We were also successful in gaining an additional £16 million from the third tranche of levelling up. I was delighted to hear this news, and was in the Commons to welcome the news, inviting the Minister to Scunthorpe for him to see first-hand the projects that this money funds.
Watch me welcome in Levelling Up funding to Scunthorpe in the Commons.
This money is on top of the £20.9 million from the Towns Fund and the £10.3 Future High Street Funds that we’ve already received! This has enabled us to work on projects such as the Enterprise and Innovation Hub, which is really beginning to take shape, and which I had the privilege of laying some of the very last bricks. Change won’t happen overnight, but I look forward to working with everyone involved to make our town the best place to live. I cannot wait to see the effects these additional funds have on our area, in this new year and for many years to come!
In recent months, I have also been able to visit a wide variety of our fantastic businesses and community groups in Scunthorpe, where I have seen first-hand the fantastic work they’ve been doing for our area and the impact it has had.
A great example of this is the Museum Makers. The Museum Makers are a group of adults with additional needs who have been learning how to create museum exhibitions, and meet once a week to make their visions come to life. The group were recently able to select objects from the collections of North Lincolnshire Museum, as well as items of their own, and create their own exhibitions in the museum. I was able to visit this exhibition, and it was truly fantastic to see the product of all the Museum Makers’ hard work, and meet them to discuss their work further.
I was also able to visit Lindsey Lodge for the second time. Patients and staff at Lindsey Lodge gave me such a warm welcome, and it was a delight to witness the dedication the team put into the wellbeing of the patients. I was particularly impressed by the craft activities and the reiki and saw first-hand the impact it has on the wellbeing of the patients. I also had the chance to speak to lay minister, Sean, about the support he gives to patients. It’s clear that everyone involved at Lindsey Lodge goes the extra mile every day and I know that the work they do and the contribution they make is valued so much by our local community.
I also headed down to Queen Elizabeth Memorial Park to participate in Scunthorpe’s Green Future Family fun day. Green Future Day was a fantastic opportunity for families to find out how we can keep make our area greener and cleaner for the present and the future, raising awareness and educating families on such an important cause. It was an absolute delight to attend, and see the brilliant events they had on offer.
Safety and security are a vital part of making our area a welcoming place. That’s why I was so pleased to hear that Scunthorpe’s multi-storey carpark received a £250,000 investment into security upgrades. This funding has been allocated to new security measures including barriers, cameras, door readers and number plate recognition systems. I raised this issue a number of times as we want to make visits to our town centre more convenient and risk-free, so this is brilliant news.
We have also seen the installation of new on-street cameras with SOS help points launched in town. The cameras will allow people in distress to connect with Scunthorpe security control at the press of a button. Five CCTV re-deployable dome cameras with audio address and a two-way control panel have been installed on West Street and Frances Street, and a further three cameras went live in this year on Frodingham Road/Digby Street, Britannia Corner and The Parishes. It’s great to have these kinds of measures so that everyone feels safe on our streets, and has access to immediate help when they don’t.
Residents may also remember the recent announcement of a new police station in Scunthorpe, using Government money. The building will be home to up to 200 police officers and staff, with residents able to conveniently access support and report crime. The station will increase the visibility of a police presence in our town centre, while improving the working conditions of our dedicated officers. I’m delighted that the plans have now been unveiled, and you can read more about it below.
In more great news for the safety of our area, Humberside Police have received £1.3 million funding from the Home Office Safer Streets Fund, of which £500,000 will be invested into the Crosby, Park and Town wards right here in Scunthorpe!
The Government boost is designed to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, including motorbike theft through a variety of improvements, including CCTV upgrades, improved street lighting and clearance of areas with high levels of fly tipping. All issues I’ve previously raised with our local police and crime commissioner Jonathan Evison. It will be great to see what a difference this will make to the crime levels in our community, alongside the help it will provide to Operation Yellowfin in tackling anti-social behaviour and motorbike theft in our area.
Progress Report: Working with our schools
I am delighted to share that since my last update, Trent View College has officially opened! Trent View is a 16-19 specialist college, offering young students with additional needs a strong base of education with the necessary support.
I previously visited the college while it was under construction, and it was a delight to see the works completed. The Government contributed £10 million to the construction of Trent View College, showing that they agree how important education for everyone is. The college is making a great difference for local families already, and I look forward to seeing its’ continuing positive impact.
Additionally, North Lincolnshire Community Energy, of which I am a member, had previously launched their community share offer. This share offer was open to bids from the community to help raise money to help North Lincolnshire schools and community buildings install solar panels free of charge. The uptake from local residents was absolutely fantastic, and has resulted in raising an astounding £576,000! North Lincolnshire Council has even been recognised for the outstanding work of their Community Energy Scheme at the recent Community Energy Awards.
This is something local residents should be so proud of, and reflects the incredible community spirit we have here in Scunthorpe.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my latest update. As you can see from above, we have some fantastic things going on in Scunthorpe, and I look forward to seeing this continue throughout the rest of the year.
Of course, if there is anything that my team or I can help you with, please do get in touch. Myself and my team are always more than happy to help wherever we can. I look forward to speaking to you all again in my next update!
My very best wishes,
Holly