Free Saturday parking is set for Sleaford throughout December as North Kesteven District Council-run car parks embrace the festive period.
The free parking applies to the following car parks:
• Eastbank, next to Sleaford Leisure Centre
• Money’s Yard, off Carre Street
• Cogglesford Watermill, off Eastgate Road
• Station Road car park
• Brydone Way car park, off Grantham Road
• Westgate car park
• Church Lane car park
The same does not apply at Eastgate carpark, which is owned and operated by Sleaford Town Council, where the usual free one hour will remain in place.
This goodwill gesture from the District Council aims to attract more visitors to Sleaford, providing a boost to local businesses in support of the shop local initiative Small Business Saturday (on December 6) and for the remainder of the month.
It will also ensure that more residents can enjoy shopping in Sleaford for Christmas, while creating opportunity for more people to discover all that Sleaford offers – walks, leisure centres, museums, cafes, the Hub, and more.
This festive gesture is in addition to the free parking that already exists on weekday evenings after 6pm and on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Councillor Richard Wright, leader of North Kesteven District Council, said: “We are pleased to be suspending Saturday parking charges in our District Council-owned car parks in Sleaford throughout December again this year.
“December and the festive period is often a vibrant time in Sleaford and we hope the provision of free parking on these Saturdays will encourage more people to visit the town centre.
“This is especially timely with Small Business Saturday on December 6 and Winterlight on December 20, when many local businesses will be eager to welcome you and help you find the perfect gifts for Christmas.”
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Switch-on set for Lincolnshire hospitals Christmas stars
Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham and District Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, will once again sparkle with festive stars this Christmas, welcoming patients, visitors, and staff throughout the season.
These stars are a beacon of joy for thousands of hospital staff, patients and visitors as they arrive or leave United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust sites each day.
Join the grand switch-on at Lincoln County Hospital, Maternity Block on Monday 1 December at 5pm.
The stars are being kindly sponsored by local businesses who want to support their local NHS. Every penny raised will help United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity transform healthcare for patients, their families and the incredible staff who care for them.
Charity Manager, Ben Petts said: “We know these stars will once again give our workforce and visitors that added bit of Christmas cheer when they visit hospital.
“Christmas is a busy time for us. We will be giving a present to every patient waking up in our hospitals on Christmas morning. We will be providing a festive feast for colleagues who are working over the festive period and offering a Christmas dinner for all our volunteers who have so generously given us their time during the year.”
So far sponsors for this year include Tesco Extra Wragby Road Store, P & HS Architects, and East Kirkby Engineering at Boston.
Ben added: “We still have stars available for local businesses to sponsor so please get in touch with us if you would like to help spread some festive cheer and make a real difference this Christmas.”
For more information please email ulth.charities.team@nhs.net
Scunthorpe plans new rules for small HMO conversions
North Lincolnshire Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce new planning controls for small houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) across Scunthorpe. The move would change how residents convert a standard home into shared accommodation for three to six unrelated people.
Current national rules allow these smaller HMOs to be created without planning permission. The council wants to remove that automatic right, meaning any future conversion would need formal approval. Larger HMOs for seven or more occupants already require permission, so this proposal focuses only on small properties.
The council’s review follows concerns raised about how concentrated HMO developments can affect neighbourhoods. Issues flagged include noise, antisocial behaviour, pressures on parking, increased demand on local services, and the gradual loss of family-sized homes.
A non-immediate Article 4 Direction is being proposed to cover all wards in Scunthorpe. If confirmed, it would take effect from 26 November 2026 and restrict permitted development rights for small HMO conversions.
The consultation runs from 27 November to 31 December 2025. Residents can share feedback online, view supporting documents on the Article 4 Direction page, or access them at Church Square House. Responses can also be sent by email or post to the council’s Strategic Housing Team.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Jo Panuwat DFreshney Place redevelopment enters construction phase
Work has now moved into full construction on the £50 million redevelopment of Freshney Place in Grimsby, marking a significant stage in the town’s regeneration programme.
The scheme, led by North East Lincolnshire Council and supported by government funding, aims to reposition the shopping centre as a mixed-use hub. The project will introduce new retail, leisure, healthcare, and community facilities as part of a wider strategy to strengthen the town centre economy.
Cllr Councillor Philip Jackson said, “This groundbreaking marks more than the start of construction; it marks a renewed sense of purpose and pride in our town.
“The project is on time and on budget. Together with our partners, we are delivering a destination that is about more than shopping but also leisure and entertainment. It’s also going to be an important contributor to our local economy creating local jobs and opportunities.”
Site clearance has taken place throughout the year, including the demolition of the former Market Hall, units on Flottergate Mall, and upper floors of the former BHS building. The construction phase will run through to 2027, when the development is expected to deliver a five-screen cinema, a food hall, a market space, and a range of leisure and hospitality units. The council acquired Freshney Place in 2022 to support long-term regeneration plans.
The wider programme also includes new housing at Alexandra Dock, where permission has been granted for 120 homes, and the upcoming Horizon Youth Zone, designed to expand local facilities for young people.
Freshney Place has already secured a pre-let agreement for its cinema with Parkway. An NHS Community Diagnostic Centre opened in the centre last year and is forecast to generate high visitor numbers. The redevelopment is intended to broaden footfall, attract further private investment and support increased demand for local services.
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire CouncilMillions generated for Lincolnshire economy by castle and museums
New figures reveal Lincolnshire County Council’s cultural attractions were visited 1.5 million times and boosted the county’s economy by £15 million last year.
The council manages a portfolio of much-loved cultural venues, including Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Museum, The Usher Gallery, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, and The Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Now, the economic and cultural impact of the sites has been revealed in a new report.
Figures show Lincoln’s castle alone generates £11 million to the county. Sell-out events like the Live at Lincoln Castle concert series and the Illuminated light spectacle have established the attraction as a key entertainment space.
The events – coupled with historic displays of internationally important artefacts like Magna Carta – have inspired people to travel from around the world to discover Lincoln for the first time.
The report also shows how other sites play a crucial role in bringing learning to life and connecting communities closer to home.
More than 20,000 school children visit the cultural attractions every year, with a variety of hands-on workshops inspiring the next generation.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 Lincolnshire’s network of 15 core and 34 community hub libraries generated more than £25 million in social value – helping to improve quality of life, boosting educational achievement and relieving pressure on medical services.
Family-friendly library events – including Costume Creator sessions – proved especially popular with young readers. Children crafted costumes inspired by The Hungry Caterpillar and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, immersing themselves in the stories and bringing beloved characters to life.
The economic impact of the county’s cultural attractions is set to grow further thanks to the ambitious £1.7 million re-development of Lincoln Museum. When the attraction open its doors again next year, visitors will be able to explore a new archaeology gallery, featuring interactive displays and hands-on experiences.
Image shows Lincoln Castle. Credit: Stock.adobe.com/chrisdorney
Cllr Natalie Oliver, executive councillor for culture, said: “From exploring 1,000 years of history at our stunning castle, to honouring the brave heroes who defended our country from Lincolnshire’s airfields at The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre, our cultural attractions do an incredible job of celebrating Lincolnshire’s proud heritage.
“While we know how loved the sites are by schoolchildren, local residents and tourists alike, this report goes further, underlining the vital economic and cultural benefits they bring to our great county.
“Generating £15 million to Lincolnshire’s economy is a great achievement, but there is even more to come. I know lots of people are as excited as I am to see Lincoln Museum re-open next year, with a brand-new gallery inviting visitors to explore our incredible heritage like never before.”
Sleaford to welcome free festive Saturday parking
South Holland to benefit from Sport England investment to get more people active
Active Lincolnshire has received a commitment of additional funding from Sport England to boost levels of physical activity among people living in communities facing the greatest health inequalities and barriers to being active.
South Holland is among the 27 places set to benefit from a share of Sport England’s £250 million investment into the heart of communities across England, designed to tackle inactivity and inequalities by making sport, physical activity and movement accessible for everyone. This investment in South Holland follows equivalent investments in Boston and East Lindsey earlier this year.
Sport England research calculates that active lifestyles save £8 billion a year for the health and social care system. This relieves some of the NHS burden, preventing more than 3.3 million cases of chronic health conditions a year – including 1.3m cases of depression, 900,000 cases of back pain and 700,000 cases of type 2 diabetes.
The Social Value of Sport report demonstrates that being physically active generates an average wellbeing value of £2,600 per adult. For adults who are disabled and/or live with a long-term health condition, being active generates a wellbeing value of more than double that – £5,300 a year. Overall, the social value of physical activity in Lincolnshire is over £1.6 billion.
Less than half of children are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines for daily physical activity and women, people from lower socio-economic groups and Black and Asian people are still less likely to be active than other adults.
To tackle these stubborn inequalities and break down barriers to a more active life, Sport England is taking a ‘Place-based approach’ – partnering with local organisations and leaders who understand both the specific needs of their communities and the local assets that are available – to support people to move more and be more active.
In South Holland, Active Lincolnshire will work with residents and local partners to listen, learn and understand the challenges and opportunities. Everyone will then work together to develop a plan for the multiyear investment.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England’s Executive Director for Place, said: “We want everyone, no matter where they live or who they are, to have the chance to be active and healthy. To do this, we’re focusing on places, towns, cities, and communities, where people face the biggest challenges.
“We are proud to announce a further 27 new Sport England place partnerships, in every corner of the country, bringing the total number of places we are working with to more than 90. We are committed to working with local partners and communities to break down the barriers to physical activity so that everyone has equal access to a more active life. We are excited to see what we can achieve together in South Holland.”
Emma Tatlow, Active Lincolnshire’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This is a really positive opportunity for our communities. We are delighted that Sport England is building on its investment in Lincolnshire, helping us to further support residents of South Holland to be more active.
“We know that where a person lives and the environment around them has an enormous impact on how likely they are to be physically active, and that too often people still face barriers and access to opportunities and facilities is inequitable.
“This investment from Sport England allows us to target our resources and efforts on communities that experience the greatest levels of inequality. It will enable us to bring together local leaders, policy and decision-makers and organisations with the community to understand the barriers and issues people face to getting active, therefore co-creating local solutions.
“If we can galvanise key stakeholders to work together with communities, we can break down the barriers and address the inequalities that are preventing the least active members of a community from joining in, benefiting people’s overall health and wellbeing. We look forward working closely with local partners and communities, going on this journey together.”
Cllr Nick Worth, Leader of South Holland District Council, said: “This additional investment in South Holland is fantastic news for our local communities in the District. This funding will help people live healthier lifestyles and in turn lead to improved wellbeing.
“We look forward to collaborating with Active Lincolnshire and other partners so people across the district have more opportunities to lead healthier and active lifestyles.”
Image: Wellbeing walk in Spalding. Credit: Chris Vaughan Photography Ltd for Active Lincolnshire via Social Change
Cornhill Market to host Lincoln’s first Christmas Teenage Market
Cornhill Market will host a festive celebration of young creativity and entrepreneurial spirit with Lincoln’s first Christmas Teenage Market on Small Business Saturday (6th December).
The event from 10am till 3pm will bring together 20 talented young traders aged 12 to 24 who will showcase their handmade products alongside Cornhill’s existing market traders.
Visitors can expect a diverse array of unique, handcrafted goods including book-themed mystery boxes, wood-slice paintings, crochet plushies, original art prints, needle-felted designs, knitted baby blankets and handmade jewellery.
The Christmas-themed event follows the successful Teenage Market in Lincoln’s City Square in September.
One young trader returning in December is Chloe Lee, better known as Miss Quirky Dermy, who has been an active Teenage Market trader in the Lincolnshire region for the last few years.
Chloe said: “Taking part in the Teenage Market has been a great opportunity for me, I’ve been so excited for it to happen in Lincoln. I feel it’s helped me reach a wider audience and set me up for the future.”
Charlotte Davies from Charlotte’s Cozy Stitches will also be returning.
She said: “It’s been really good for my confidence getting face to face with the customer. Coming back to each Teenage Market allows me to continue crocheting and keep making.”
The Christmas Teenage Market will also feature a stall facilitated by Kooth, the digital mental health service supporting children and young people, offering a welcoming space for information and engagement.
Artventurers will also host free interactive Christmas arts activities, including card and decoration making, which are open to children and families throughout the day.
Speaking about the event, Teenage Market event organiser Scarlet Barratt said: “We’re really looking forward to returning to Cornhill Market. Holding it on Small Business Saturday allows us to showcase local talent and highlight the value small businesses bring to the local economy. We urge everyone to come down and support these creative young entrepreneurs.”
The Christmas Teenage Market is made possible thanks to support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and City of Lincoln Council.
Councillor Joshua Wells, portfolio holder for inclusive economic growth, said they are delighted to be supporting its return: “The last Teenage Market was a great success with the stallholders collectively making over £1,600 so we’re pleased to be hosting a similar event in Cornhill Market, which is already home to some fantastic local independent businesses.
“I can’t wait to see the incredible creative talents and craftsmanship on display again. These young people really are the retailers of the future!
“In addition to the market, visitors to the city centre will be able to enjoy the Lincoln Ice Adventure and with it also being Small Business Saturday there’s even more reason to come along and show your support.”
The Christmas Teenage Market will be held in Cornhill Market on 6th December from 10am – 3pm.
Image: Chloe Lee, better known as Miss Quirky Dermy, has been an active Teenage Market trader for the last few years and will be at the Christmas Teenage Market at Cornhill Market on 6th December.
Lincolnshire expands tree and hedgerow planting for 2026–28
Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed a renewed partnership with the Woodland Trust that will see a major increase in tree and hedgerow planting across the county over the next two years.
The new agreement runs from 2026 to 2028 and will support the planting of around 217,900 trees, building on the 207,000 planted under the previous partnership. The scale of the programme is equivalent to covering more than 60 football pitches with new woodland.
Alongside this, Lincolnshire is set to gain 12 additional miles of hedgerow, enough to line up roughly 2,000 double-decker buses. The expansion comes as the county works to improve its low tree-canopy coverage, which currently stands at just 4%.
For residents, the plan includes more opportunities to bring greenery into their own spaces. The council will distribute 125 free tree packs each year, amounting to 12,500 trees over the two years. Free hedgerow packs will also return, with 100 offered in both 2026 and 2027, adding another 55,000 trees.
Wider woodland creation will increase as well. The programme aims for 12.5 hectares of new woodland annually, with the Woodland Trust subsidising 90% of young tree and protection costs. This will provide around 20,000 trees each year.
The initiative also supports the growth of community orchards, with 200 potted standard trees available annually for local councils and community groups looking to create or expand shared green spaces.
Image credit: Lincolnshire County CouncilGrimsby library building enters new phase of remediation
Grimsby Central Library has entered a new stage of remediation works as the council moves to address asbestos and structural issues that have kept the building closed since March. The closure followed a water leak that created a risk of asbestos disturbance, prompting the full removal and storage of the library’s contents over the spring and summer. Approximately 157,000 items, including 94,000 books and extensive local history materials, were relocated to secure storage.
Specialist contractors are now preparing for a 12-week asbestos removal programme focused on the plant room, which provides the only internal access to the roof. Scaffolding is being delivered this week ahead of work beginning. Once the asbestos is cleared, engineers will complete a full roof inspection to determine the scale of repairs required to address water ingress.
The remediation project is a key step in determining the long-term future of the town’s main library building. While the site remains closed, a temporary pop-up library continues to operate at Freshney Place on Baxtergate, offering core services throughout the week.
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire CouncilNew Lincoln shop launches Toys for Take Off
The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is launching Toys for Take Off – a toy donation drive to celebrate the opening of its new Lincoln shop ahead of Christmas.
The charity, which relies on donations to operate its life-saving service, is set to officially open the doors to a new store, off Newark Road, on Saturday 29 November.
LNAA’s head of retail, Elizabeth Wright said: “This shop is an exciting development for the charity and our supporters – just in time for Christmas!
“Toys for Take Off is our appeal for toy donations so hopefully it’s an ideal time for people to clear out unwanted toys to make way for new ones. People can also come and do some gift shopping and find good quality bargains, all while supporting our crews to get to patients over the festive period.”
The new site is perfect for dropping off donations; people can park and browse but it’s also easy walking distance for lots of local communities.
LNAA previously operated a shop in the city’s High Street which was closed in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity opened a new shop in Wragby earlier this year and will continue to review the retail landscape.
The new shop will open at 10.30am on 29 November, with a guest appearance from the charity’s mascot Parameduck who will ‘ducklare’ the store officially open!
Find the new shop at 246 Newark Road, Lincoln, LN6 8RP.
