Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill says it’s outrageous that National Grid won’t share cost comparisons about its plans to run chains of pylons through the Lincolnshire countryside. He says requests from the Council have been blocked with a response which claims there is ‘very little benefit to be gained’ from sharing this information. He said: “I think it’s outrageous that National Grid still refuses to present us with their workings and is hiding from a legitimate – and very reasonable – request for facts and figures. In their letter back to the council, they said they believe there is ‘very little benefit to be gained’ from sharing this information. I wholeheartedly disagree.” He says the company is hiding detailed costings on cabling, and is demanding to know details about the planned Grimsby to Walpole pylon route to make sure that the other options – including placing cables on the seabed – had been properly considered. National Grid has told the Council it doesn’t hold a central database of all the information, that it would take too long to pull the information together, and has labelled the request as unreasonable. Councillor Hill added: “We’re not talking about a small proposal – these pylon plans will have a major impact on the east coast of Lincolnshire and we want to make sure these costs have been properly worked through. “Residents have told us that they are concerned about Nationally Significant Infrastructure proposals like these, and believe that these pylons specifically will have negative impacts on our environment, tourism and the landscape. We have a duty to these residents to make sure we do what we can to protect their homes and livelihoods. “We don’t deny that connectivity is important, but the infrastructure needs to be upgraded properly, and all views considered. We’re not going to give up on this; we’re going to keep trying to get some honesty and transparency. The campaign continues.” Lincolnshire County Council will now look to revise and resubmit further questions to National Grid. In a conducted by the county council 84% of residents said they were ‘concerned’ or ‘very concerned’ about the impact on the county caused by Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

The University of Lincoln is one of only six UK universities to be awarded a £5m Leverhulme International Professorship grant, which makes it possible to have Professor Len Barbour take up the post of Leverhulme International Professor of Materials Insight and Innovation. The grant will be delivered over five years, and will allow Professor Barbour to identify new materials which could be used across a range of industries to support their low-carbon efforts. A key research strand for the University is energy and net zero; making meaningful contributions to reduce carbon emissions and the appointment of Professor Barbour will support this endeavour and enhance the institution’s research excellence.  Joining from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, Professor Barbour obtained his PhD from the University of Cape Town. He said: “I’m delighted to be joining the University of Lincoln to assemble a new and fast-moving and topical research group which will focus on facilitating advances in the fundamental understanding and design of materials which have so far been unimaginable – opening up new avenues for materials research. A particular aim of the research will be to develop new materials with innovative and potentially useful properties, shedding light on their structure-property relationship at the molecular level.”  

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance are giving a huge thanks to the team at Blankney Golf Club for arranging such a fabulous Golf Day last year and raising an incredible £12,100. This generosity will fund three life-saving missions using the charity’s iconic yellow helicopter. LNAA’s Community Fundraising Officer, Jac Sutherland said: “It was lovely to give members a behind the scenes tour to meet the crew and learn more about what we do. “This year LNAA needs £13million to keep its helicopter in the air and fleet of critical care cars on the road, 24/7, seven days-a-week and it is only with the generosity of the public that our crews are able to be by the side of critically ill and injured patients when they need us most.”

Film making, animation, podcasting and all things creative were on show this week as Newark College’s media lounge was officially opened. Part of the College’s wider offering, the Media Lounge offers students the chance to explore creative and innovative approaches to the profession on its Creative Media Course. To open the facility, the Media team welcomed back a former student, Josh Rai, who first attended the College back in 1996. Now part of Met Film, the largest provider of filmmaking courses in Europe, Josh helps deliver university degree programmes. Josh studied at Newark College 25 years ago and is now a course leader at Met Film as well as the owner of his own production company. His journey began with a Creative Media course at Newark College, where he gained valuable paid work experience that sparked his passion for filmmaking. This foundation led Josh to study filmmaking, honing his skills with film stock and camera development techniques. He later progressed to the University of Derby before taking on several roles in London to gain on-set experience. During this time, Josh worked on high-profile music videos and adverts for artists such as Billie Piper and Robbie Williams. In 2008, Josh transitioned into education, using his skills to support young people in community projects through filmmaking. In 2021, he attended the National Film and Television School, focusing on narrative-based projects. Today, Josh is actively pitching ideas to BBC Three and Channel 4 while continuing his role as a course leader. Josh had a tour of the new facility, as well as giving a speech to current learners and providing an interactive workshop on camera blocking. The students were invited to share their favourite film scenes to discuss, before being given a practical task, setting up and filming some set scripts. Josh said: “It’s amazing to be back at the College after 25 years and I really do have unbelievable memories of being here. Reflecting, it’s great to think about my lecturers from the time, which includes Justin Day, who was one of my tutors at the time. Him and others really helped me develop my vocabulary and theoretical knowledge and therefore were instrumental in me finding my creative spark.” Lecturer in Media, Justin Day, said: “It’s great to have our facility fully open and to have an alumni student attending is special. Josh was on our BTEC National Diploma back in the late 90s and to see how far he has come is inspirational for us all. As Josh has said, it’s great to have things come full circle sometimes. “The suite we have up here is special. Students on the Creative Media course are encouraged to treat this like a workplace, we have them clock in, knowing what they are working on and what they are aiming for. “In their first year here, they can focus on experimenting with different media platforms and then in the second year they specialise in a project. We have students here that are creative and keen and are exploring some really varied topics. “For example, we have one student who is recording podcasts and broadcast audio, whereas alongside that, we have students working on graphic novels, animation, making films and working on photography projects. The pathways to careers or further studies is very much open to students and we’re here to guide them.” In addition to the creative course options on offer, students are also able to contribute to Radio Newark, a local station that is now broadcasting live from the Media Lounge’s studio. Radio Newark’s Chairman, Tony Roberts, said: “We have a great relationship with Newark College and it’s amazing to see how far the organisation has come over the years, this is an excellent facility.” Newark College Head of Campus, Penny Taylor MBE, said: “These facilities are really setting our students up for the future. The opportunities we are able to offer might mean that like Josh, our students might be able to return and tell us all about what they have gone on to achive.”

More money has come from Freemasons to make sure there will always be a tiny teddy to comfort small children facing the hospital visits thanks to two more donations to the Teddies for Loving Care Charity. Funded entirely by Freemasons, the charity has given more than 3.5 MILLION bears to hospitals around the country for staff to give to children having treatment. In Lincolnshire the effort is co-ordinated by Graham ‘Teddy Man’ Cadel, who was given not one but two cheques at the meeting of Excalibur Lodge in Lincoln. The first, or £306, was raised at  the Lodge’s Ladies Dining In Night; the second of £100 raised in lieu of members sending Christmas cards to each other. Said Graham: “For once in my life I was speechless, which raised a cheer from everyone at the meeting. But seriously, these donations are so important because the bears they buy help to take away a child’s fear of the unknown during a hospital visit. The bears might be small, but their impact is enormous. They comfort the child, and make it easier for staff to give the necessary treatment. We’re glad to be able to help, even though we’re unlikely to know the people we’ve helped. We know just how grateful  parents are when their child is given one of our bears, because the thought that someone else cares helps them through a difficult time. That’s a comfort to them too.”

Lincolnshire County, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire council leaders have responded to a government call for local government reorganisation (LGR). This was an expression of interest and not a detailed proposal.

A night shelter facility to assist with short term accommodation provision has been opened by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC). Working in partnership with Grantham Ark, SKDC has launched the venue, which consists of a four-bedroom flat, with two beds in each room giving a capacity of eight occupants. During the activation of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, where rough sleepers are provided with accommodation to get them off the streets, individuals were given space in the shelter, which also provides bathroom and kitchen facilities with basic food provision. Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Virginia Moran, said: “I am delighted our new facility to help rough sleepers was opened in December in partnership with Grantham Ark. We aim to make this provision available to all those who qualify and those without priority need when the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol is in place. “It has been a resounding success and those we have helped really appreciated the opportunity to speak to support staff in a more informal setting. Depending on uptake we will consider opening a further shelter in the south of the District in the future. “Hotel accommodation is not always suitable, there are limited options to access food and often the hotels the Council can access are outside of the main towns and difficult for people to travel to. “The new accommodation also costs less than providing hotel rooms, and this helps our budget go further in helping some of the more vulnerable people in our district.” There is a volunteer support worker on site each evening and first thing each morning to signpost individuals to further support and provisions they can access during the day. SKDC has funded overnight security staff to ensure the safety of the people placed and the wider community. Cllr Moran added: “Face-to-face support helps people transition back into settled accommodation, either through our own Choice Based Lettings system or into private rented housing. “As of the 14^th January we have provided 117 bed spaces to 17 different people. We have already arranged permanent homes for two residents and three more are set to move into settled accommodation in the coming week.” Grantham Ark protects and supports local people who are experiencing homelessness after being launched in 2020 by the vicar of St Wulfram’s Church in Grantham.   Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/2B

A new car park and drop off zone opposite Waltham Toll Bar Academy is set to open on Monday (20 January). The 54-space car park on land off Station Road began construction in August in response to parents’ concerns regarding safety. Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Housing at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is a brilliant initiative that will ensure the safety of countless school children. “We understand the concerns raised by parents and have acted upon them as swiftly as possible. It will undoubtedly be a vital asset to those using the car park and I look forward to it being utilised.” The car park will be managed by North East Lincolnshire Council and be open from 7am until 6pm during term time with the free drop-off – using the ordinary bays as well as specific zone – restricted to 8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm. The site will be closed from 6pm with barriers preventing evening and night-time entry. Outside of the free drop off times, normal council parking charges will apply. These will be £1.50 for two hours and £2.50 for the full day. Parking and stopping restrictions, such as double yellow lines, will be introduced along both sides of Station Road to ensure drop-offs are made in the car park only. These restrictions are in place to help prevent parents parking on the grass verges either side of the road. The car park will also include landscaping to ensure it is shielded from the new homes nearest to the site, as well as considering some natural barriers between the car park and Station Road. There will also be height restrictions, safety barriers and bollards.   Image credit: Google maps

Tamily Cookson is to be the University of Lincoln’s Director of the Barbican Creative Hub,  due to open this spring as Lincolnshire’s future ‘home’ for the cultural and creative sector. It’s said her appointment will play a pivotal role in shaping the Hub into a dynamic resource for cultural creativity in the region, supporting more than 3,000 businesses and freelancer In 2024, Tamily founded COLLECTIVE., a community for creative, digital, and tech innovators across the East Midlands, supported by Nottingham Trent University. She has also worked as a creative industries consultant, collaborating with key organisations to develop regional strategies for creative growth and talent development.  She served as a UK Council member for Creative UK (2021-2023) and continues to support the sector as a trustee for Nonsuch Studios, an organisation dedicated to fostering creativity and cultural engagement.  Her commitment to fostering talent, reimagining urban experiences, and driving collaboration across cultural, educational, and business sectors aligns perfectly with the mission of the Hub.   She said: “I am thrilled to join the Barbican Creative Hub at such an exciting time for Lincolnshire’s creative industries. The Hub has the potential to transform the region’s creative landscape, and I’m looking forward to working with the community to unlock its full potential.”

  Picture: The former Post Office. Credit: Google maps