Latest news with #RobGibson
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Spalding's £50m 'bridge to nowhere' not a waste of cash
A £50m "bridge to nowhere" is not a waste of taxpayers' money, insists the council group that backed the original bridge, outside Spalding in Lincolnshire, was completed in 2024 and was meant to be a relief road easing congestion on the western side of the town, but its other sections have not been built and are still awaiting government Conservative group, which lost control of the county council to Reform UK in May, insisted the bridge was part of plans to build and access new houses in the Rob Gibson, recently appointed deputy leader of the authority, said leaving a road half-built was "not acceptable". Work started on what has been dubbed by media and politicians as the "bridge to nowhere" in 2022 and, along with the northern section of the £110m relief road, was completed two years funding for the middle and southern sections of the road has not been June 2023, it was announced work on the relief road had been delayed until 2030 due to a "turbulent three years marked by increased costs due to Covid, rising inflation rates and the current economic climate".The Conservatives claim they have been unfairly criticised for originally managing the project, and still believe the bridge will eventually be linked Richard Davies, who was the council's transport portfolio holder before Reform UK won last month's local election, said: "Our plan was always to do it in sections and take advantage of funding when it became available."The local councils were all involved (in the decision), some of whom are now senior in the Reform leadership."There is money to complete this and I think it will come." Having criticised the previous Conservative administration's failure to complete the relief road, the new Reform UK-led county council is promising to move the scheme added: "One of the first things we're doing is looking at all of the county's road projects with a fresh set of eyes."Leaving a road half-built isn't acceptable and waiting years and years to finish a project as important as the Spalding Western Relief Road is frustrating and unfair to local people."Spalding is also at the heart of the UK's food and flower industry, and there has been pressure from businesses to improve road infrastructure around the south of the county in order to connect it to the there are no firm commitments to do that but the newly elected county council is promising to work with new mayor Andrea Jenkyns to see "what the future could be".Dame Andrea said: "Lincolnshire has been ignored by government for too long when it comes to funding the infrastructure our residents and businesses want and need."Routes around the south of the county are strategically important, particularly for our food and farming sector. "I'll be using my role as mayor to make sure the roads and other projects we need get the national recognition and funding they deserve." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Geraldton walk calls for unity during Reconciliation Week after WA's Stolen Generations redress announcement
Local school students and community groups stepped up to take a stand for reconciliation on Wednesday, the day after the WA Government unveiled a redress scheme for survivors of the Stolen Generation. About 200 people gathered in Geraldton's CBD to take part in the annual Wanarayimanha walk, part of National Reconciliation Week, which included a walk along the foreshore and a welcome to country by Kathleen Councillor. The event was hosted by Desert Blue Connect, Radio MAMA and Legal Aid WA and organised by the Department of Justice, and Justice and Community Network Committee. Leader of the march, previous Mid West Gascoyne police youth crime intervention officer and Aboriginal regional co-ordinator at Department of Communities, Rob Gibson said events like the walk were 'massive' for the entire community. 'If you're thinking about bridging a gap between non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal people, especially Yamatji peoples, it's really important to come together at many little events like this, they grow and they grow, and that's what we want,' he said. 'We want that involvement. We want that connection between them both. Because both of us have great histories. We need to combine that. 'So I always like to think that if you combine 250 years of history with 60,000 years of history, imagine the strength.' On Tuesday morning after National Sorry Day, WA Premier Roger Cook announced that $85,000 would be available per person for Stolen Generation survivors removed from their families before July 1, 1972, as a one-off payment as part of the redress scheme. Applications will open in the second half of the year and only surviving members of the Stolen Generation will be eligible. 'These payments acknowledge an injustice. It does not correct what has happened, but it does offer a path forward,' the Premier said. Mr Gibson, whose father is a survivor of the Stolen Generation, said the announcement was welcomed — not for the money, but the acknowledgement. 'I can certainly say, from a personal point of view, that my father was taken away when he was just a little boy. He didn't see his parents again for a number of years. And that's, you know, that's massive,' he said. 'It's not even about the funds. It's actually about the recognition of his worth and what he's been through, because it's not those missing years, it's the 89 years that he's been around. So it's really important to get that recognition.' Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation CEO Luka Gray said the redress scheme was a 'long-overdue' step toward 'truth, healing and justice for Aboriginal people who were forcibly removed from their families, culture and country.' 'We recognise the deep and ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by these removals and the resilience of our Stolen Generations survivors, many of whom remain active knowledge-holders and leaders in our community,' she said. 'While no financial payment can ever fully address the harm suffered, we hope this scheme provides a meaningful recognition of that pain and supports a path forward through healing and truth-telling initiatives. 'YSRC looks forward to engaging with government and community stakeholders to ensure that the delivery of the scheme is respectful, accessible and culturally safe for all Yamatji Nation members.' The reconciliation walk, which focused on the theme Bridging Now to Next, started at Rocks Laneway, made its way along the foreshore, and returned to the laneway for a morning tea, giving the community a chance to connect, share stories and work together for a better future. Mr Gibson said Australia still has far to go when it comes to bridging the gap. 'It's baby steps generally,' he said. 'I think we have never been in a time where people have more knowledge about our people. 'But unfortunately, we're only this far on the distance of that, so we've got a long way to go.'
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK picks ex-police officer to lead Lincolnshire council
Reform UK has chosen a retired police officer to lead Lincolnshire County Sean Matthews, who represents Tattershall Castle, spent 25 years in the Metropolitan Police before leaving in party took control of the council from the Conservatives after winning 44 of the 77 seats in an election on 1 said it was "an honour and a privilege" to become the new leader and pledged to deliver on "a clear mandate for serious change". Councillor Rob Gibson will serve as Matthews' UK enjoyed a double success in the elections, with Dame Andrea Jenkyns winning the race to become the first mayor of Greater Lincolnshire."What we have achieved here is incredible. From a standing start we now have full control of the council and an excellent Greater Lincolnshire mayor," said will take over as leader of the council from the Conservatives' Martin Hill, who led the authority for 20 who retained his Folkingham Rural seat, has stepped down as Tory group leader in favour of Councillor Richard Davies, citing the need for "fresh blood".The full council will meet on 23 May. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
