Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

Residents in the West End have been receiving the Lincoln Conservative Party newsletter for Summer 2008. The front page talks about Karl McCartney, who is their prospective parliamentary candidate for Lincoln, in bringing back horse racing to the West Common and for the city of Lincoln. What type of racing was not declared.
He was heard on BBC Radio Lincolnshire yesterday, 2nd September, about his proposals for this to happen.
The Lincolnshire Echo heard this and in today's copy of the Echo, 3rd September, has written an article about it.
It talks about flat racing for the former Carholme Race Course.
The Conservatives who run Lincoln City Council have now declared their support for such a venture and to bring in private enterprise to pay for this. It will be a multi million pound project hopefully to be completed in five years time.
Another project for the Lincolnshire Showground which has yet to materialise, is horse racing to be introduce there in future years to come, but it is understood that this will be point-to-point. The Echo has failed to include this information in their story.
For years the Grandstand on the West Common has been neglected by both Labour and Conservative ruling groups at City Council. This is a Grade 2 listed building and the last of its kind built in 18th century when horse racing became popular in the UK and especially in Lincoln and Lincolnshire.
The building is in disrepair, and if no maintenance is forthcoming within the next two years, the structure will become too expensive for remedial repairs.
The Commons Advisory Committee has been asking Lincoln City Council for several years to take action in saving this wonderful and magnificent building, but this has fallen on deaf ears, until now. It is the first building visitors and tourists see when coming off Lincoln's only bypass and travelling into the city of Lincoln. All they see is a building badly neglected, in disrepair, and in need of tender loving and care. Once lost, the people of Lincoln would lose a piece of history. And beneath the Grandstand, in one of the community rooms, painted on the wall, is an original emblem of the Royal Flying Corps, dated 1917, which used the West Common as an airfield during World War One.
I was asked to give a presentation at City Hall on Monday, 1st September, about the neglect and what is needed to keep the Grandstand standing. I mentioned what City Hall did and provided the money to repair and paint a former fish and chip shop, sited on Broadgate. This building had become an eyesaw to those visiting Lincoln. City Council took action on this matter as this building was giving the wrong impression about the city.
The recommendation by the Commons Advisory Panel, with city councillors and officers attending meeting and in agreement, is to present the case about the Grandstand to the Executive Committee at Lincoln City Council.
Something must be done before the Grandstand falls apart wthin the next few years. The building cannot wait until horse racing, if ever, starts again on the West Common.
So I ask that residents play their part by contacting their local councillors and Lincoln City Council and ask that the Grandstand is repaired on the outside and also painted to preserve the wood, the windows, plus that the wooden steps be cleared of weeds, a preservative be laid down onto the steps, and the steel barriers removed which have been placed there for five years.
Other news concerning the West Common is that Michael Jones, who is Lincoln City Council's archaeologist, will be placing Information boards about the West Common at three entrances to this common.
This will be the entrance near to the gate from West Parade, the main gate on Saxilby Road, and the kissing gate to the West Common from Mitchell Drive, off Long Leys Road.

[tonyandcarol]

John no ill feelings towards you, but will Mr Jones be putting one also on the gates to new cemetery as well to explain whats there!

[john shipton]

Hi Tony and all...
I would suggest that you telephone Mike Jones, City Council's archaeologist, on 01522 873271, and ask the question about the historical remains that lie underneath the new cemetery, if and when it will be completed. This could be included on any signage which Lincoln City Council will display.
I wonder what name City Council will call the cemetery?
Should we have a competition for what it will be called!

[SteveW]

That's simple:

"DEAD IN THE WATER"