Council leader Rob Waltham has congratulated the new MPs for the area and has used the outcome of the General Election to reaffirm the priorities for North Lincolnshire and its residents.
Cllr Rob Waltham said: “I would like to congratulate the new local MPs and Martin Vickers who has become MP for the new constituency of Brigg and Immingham and thank outgoing MP Holly Mumby-Croft for her outstanding commitment to local residents and tireless hard work.
“Our area has a number of issues to address and we will be seeking an early resolution on support for our steel industry. Any deal that turns off the blast furnaces in Scunthorpe will be met with the sternest opposition by me and I know I have the backing of local steel workers and residents on this. We simply can not afford to lose thousands of jobs in our steel industry it would be a disaster for our local economy.
“On the issue of the hospital, we have seen some significant investment in a new A&E and the new community diagnostic hub in the town centre, however I am genuinely concerned that proposals to downgrade Scunthorpe General Hospital in favour of Grimsby are still hanging over us. We have been clear that these proposals would not be acceptable. Our residents should not face a long trek to receive treatment or visit friends and family, and we will use the full force of the council to resist any changes by the new Government.
“We also need assurances that vital money earmarked for the area for projects like regenerating Scunthorpe town centre and Barton Bypass will be honoured. Much has been achieved, a new innovation hub with NHS worker accommodation and a new police station is planned, however there is more to do and we have plans and business investors awaiting decisions from the new Government.
“We also had a £720million devolution deal on the table, this would have started the process of dualling the A15, improving skills and better paid jobs for local people and also helped to increase highway spending locally. The future of this investment now hangs in the balance and I will be working with my colleagues across Lincolnshire to call for an early meeting with the Government to ask for this commitment to be honoured.”
