📢 “Councillors Say One Thing… Then Publish Another”???
A new issue of the local community newsletter — The Regen News: Crowle & Ealand Regeneration Project (Spring/Easter 2025) — has just been delivered to residents. On page 10 is an article written by Cllr Julie Reed, which contradicts much of what residents have been told privately — particularly a Crowle resident who has been raising legitimate concerns about transparency, planning procedures, and the environmental impact of the ongoing sewer and drainage works.
📍Here's what the newsletter says — and what local residents know from lived experience:
📰 NEWSLETTER CLAIM:
“We met with Yorkshire Water following the incident where 2,800 people across our ward had no water supplies – in some cases for up to 48 hours. Yorkshire Water, co-ordinated by Cllr Bint, ensured that palletised water was delivered to the fire station as soon as possible…”
🔍 LOCAL REALITY:
The burst water main occurred just outside Belton on the A161 between the morning of Saturday 15 February and the evening of Sunday 16 February. Residents on Windsor Crescent and nearby roads only found out about the water drop-off point at the fire station by chance, after walking into town — no official notice was given.
The claim that Cllr Bint coordinated the water delivery is questionable — Yorkshire Water provides bottled water in such circumstances as standard emergency protocol, not because of councillor involvement.
📰 NEWSLETTER CLAIM:
“We will continue the conversation with Yorkshire Water to understand their plans for future-proofing the clean water for our area, as there is ever growing housing development.”
🔍 LOCAL REALITY:
This line seems to offer a hint into the deeper motivations behind the rush to complete the works — bypassing public consultation, ignoring planning transparency, and obscuring the environmental implications. “Ever growing housing development” is being used as a justification for ignoring residents’ concerns — and as a catch-all excuse for backdoor decision-making.
📰 NEWSLETTER CLAIM:
“Severn Trent are pushing ahead with major works... North Lincs have finished the Godnow Road works and handed over to Severn Trent and the Internal Drainage Board…”
🔍 LOCAL REALITY:
This directly contradicts the “silencing letter” issued to a Crowle resident on 2 April by North Lincolnshire Council, which repeatedly insisted:
“Severn Trent Water are not contracted by the council.”
So which is it? Are they involved or not? The newsletter clearly describes a working (and not 'informal') partnership between North Lincs Council, Severn Trent, and the Internal Drainage Board.
💬 And here's where it gets even more troubling: both Cllr Julie Reed and Cllr Ian Bint are listed members of the very same Internal Drainage Board involved in these works — as publicly declared in their Registers of Interests.
👉 That’s a potential conflict of interest, especially as they now appear to be scrutinising a project they are themselves involved in.
Yet when residents raise concerns or ask legitimate questions, they're told these issues “have nothing to do with the council.”
📰 NEWSLETTER CLAIM:
“We have regular site meetings with the contractors... Any issues or concerns, please contact us and we will do our best to assist…”
🔍 LOCAL REALITY:
This is especially galling given that:
One Crowle resident — who has a diagnosed health condition and provided medical documentation — has been effectively banned from contacting the council.
A separate Epworth resident and former councillor — who requested to speak at this evening’s council meeting — was told she’d only be given three minutes, and no access to Councillors.
Despite repeated emails, no official response has been given regarding whether the Crowle resident would be allowed to speak.
So… residents are told to get in touch, and then ignored or silenced when they do.
🗣️ TO LOCAL RESIDENTS:
Are you seeing what’s really happening? Are you concerned about how your council is operating behind closed doors — even while publishing glowing newsletters? If so, please consider signing this petition and sharing it.
✊ Let's keep exposing the contradictions — and make them answer to the people they claim to represent.
Why not contact Councillor Julie Reed (cllr.juliereed@northlincs.gov.uk - 01724 712 490 or 07584 261 066, or Councillor Ian Bint (cllr.ianbint@northlincs.gov.uk - 07885 317 324), as listed in the above published article, and put forward your concerns to them. After all, according to Councillor Reed in the article: "...please contact us and we will do out best to assist..."
…
👉 If you feel strongly about the issues raised in this newsletter, then consider sending an e-mail to Crowle Town Council or North Lincolnshire Council or even Councillor Julie Reed, and ask them why are residents being silenced?
📢 Please share this petition and ask others to sign. Help amplify the message:
Local voices should be heard, not silenced!