“n the early and middle decades of the Twentieth Century Lincoln had a proud manufacturing heritage. The Morrison¿s Supermarket on Tritton Road carries plaques commemorating the achievements of the men and women who worked in the factories in the area. This all changed during the seventies and eighties, when manufacturing declined nationally, and particularly in Lincoln.



Still, we had nothing to worry about. With a fantastic cathedral, a great castle, a very impressive Bishop¿s Palace and the most northerly vineyards in Europe, we could keep the city ticking over with tourism. As someone who loves history, I thought this was a great idea. I also believe in protecting the environment, so when they flattened a car park to build a museum I wasn't exactly upset. Better public transport or a park and ride system would have been nice, but you can¿t have everything. Building Lincoln up to be a centre of historical tourism, alongside York and Norwich was a great idea. It would certainly support the local economy now that our manufacturing base has gone.



Except it won¿t. We now see the infrastructure of our fledgling tourism industry being left to rot. The government refuses to fund it, the council can¿t find the money and the voluntary sector thinks it is too expensive and laborious to maintain. Meanwhile how many small businesses, shop keepers, hotels and others are going to suffer? How many of our fantastic (and I mean that) historical buildings will not be visited because of this short sighted decision? Lincoln holds one of only three original copies of the Magna Carta and yet we won¿t have a functioning tourism service to enable people to see it? There must surely be something wrong in that situation.



The Council is guilty of weakness. But I would say the biggest fault lies in the system. Why are we able to throw money at bankers who have run their business into the wall, and yet we can¿t fund the local heritage industry in a city that is rich in history? On my twelfth birthday I was taken to Lincoln Cathedral. I could not believe the beauty of it. The only equivalent I can think of is St George¿s Hall in Liverpool. Yet by closing down the tourism function in Lincoln we will be ensuring that thousands will not view such a magnificent building.



The local council has been deprived of funds for a number of years. We need to demand more government funding for local services, and this must include the heritage and cultural sector. If they can throw £50 Billion at the banks and a further £76 Billion on improving a redundant Trident missile system, then I think they should be able to find money for Lincoln¿s heritage and cultural industry. Personally I would prefer museums to missiles.”

“Lincoln is heading to become a backwater area for both visitors and tourists. In fact how Lincoln City Council has been treated the city for decades has resulted small businesses and shops closing down or moving out and going elsewhere.
City Council and County Council are just not pulling their weight together and it appears that any progress has been derailed similar with private companies who run the railway system and public transport. For it has been reported that the company who currently has the franchise of bringing back trains going from Lincoln to Kings Cross may be pulling out due to costs and expense.
The taxpayer is paying for the all of these mistakes.”

“With all these cuts I am really looking forward to a big council tax reduction next year. ;-)”

“Here We Go !! The same old thing? Lincoln Councils have done it for years,say they are wanting to progress with the city,and then putting it on a back burner.
the city centre was going to be upgraded many,many years ago ! what's going on with that? Nothing as per usual..
It's always the same, full of good ideas that go nowhere.”

“Annonymous Coward, Yes first time ever we have agreed isnt it?.

But like the point you raise, the money does not go directly all to them instead it mainly supports
local business and the like, hence why they have such a negative outlook on tourism i think.”

“I have no 'axe to grind' regarding political colour of the City Council but it really does appear that this council is making some truly atrocious decisions.
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In these cash strapped times they should be diverting a larger proportion of the budget to promoting Lincoln to tourists and businesses.
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It really does seem that they are incompetent.”

“We have all heard of the Berlin Wall which divided this German city one time. Thanks to pressure coming from within and outside, its residents demolished it.
But with the city of Lincoln, it appears that the Conservative run council has ideas of segregating Lincoln from the rest of the world and the UK. Perhaps the Tories are planning to use the former wall that stood once in Berlin by spending tax payers money to recycle it and build a wall for Lincoln in keeping out visitors and tourists.
Already comdedians are saying "I say, I say" jokes about what is being done to Lincoln.
But this is no joke when the previous ruliing Labour group did no better due to their ignorance.
Treedle Dum and Tweedle Dee has become what Conservatives and Labour groups are now.
Like what the Imps keep doing with football - going nowhere, as with Lincoln heading to become a backwater for tourists and visitors alike, not being mentioned. promoted, or advertised, anywhere.”

“i have lived in lincoln since 1994 i pay my own council tax water rates / electrictiy / gas and i love this city why ruin it thats the council for you oh we forgot we don.t have enough money so we have to do cut backs for there own pockets and there ruining lincoln”

“"Take a good look at the country and then decide if Labour are fit to sort anything out. The first thing Labour need to sort out is themselves."
One of the rare points we agree on ;-) What has our lovely MP got to say on the subjuct - nothing. Maybe she should be lobbying our chanceller for a fairer settlement from central government. Oh she can't as it has no cash either, in fact the black hole in Lincoln City's finances is very small compared to the UK's

I can't believe the council don't want tourists in Lincoln, With the Euro been so good against the pound they should be promoting more. I guess they don't as the money goes to local business rather than directly to them. They don't seem to understand that if these business go under they will have even less money!”

“Den, "Get labour back in to sort this mess out".
That statement would be funny if it were not so sad.

Take a good look at the country and then decide if Labour are fit to sort anything out. The first thing Labour need to sort out is themselves.”