South Kesteven Districtt Council has promised to underwrite the future of its services to residents with the commissioning of a £10m depot on Turnpike Close to replace the current one on Alexandra Road.

The new depot, being built by the Lindum Group, will be operational late next year or early the year after, at which point the old deport, built in the 197s, will close.

The new premises will be home to more than 250 staff operating a range of services including bin collection, street cleaning, and maintenance of parks, housing repairs, and the vehicle fleet.

Cllr Richard Cleaver said the new site would allow service provision to expand to meet the needs of a growing population. “This is a significant capital investment that demonstrates SKDC’s commitment to future-proofing services for our residents.

“The current depot at Alexandra Road, Grantham, was built in the 1970s and is now at the end of its operational life. It is no longer fit-for-purpose, does not allow for service expansion and does not support the Council’s current and future operational needs.

“There are also issues with site access as it is in the heart of a residential area, health and safety concerns with respect to movement of vehicles and poor welfare standards for staff.”

Lindum Group Co-chairman Edward Chambers said: “We share SKDC’s vision of creating facilities that foster operational efficiency and sustainability while being future proof.

“Our in-house team of architects and engineers have helped to make the scheme viable. They worked with the council for four months to help align the project specification to the council’s budget and performance requirements.

“I look forward to seeing this building progress over the coming months and once complete, it will ensure SKDC can continue to meet the needs of a growing population by providing vital services from a modern, purpose-built facility.”

North East Lincolnshire Council employee Lenny Would has decided to retire after nearly six decades maintaining all manner of vehicles for the council and its predecessors. Lenny, now 72, started as an apprentice for Grimsby Borough Council in 1968 when he was just 16. Fixing anything from bin lorries to lawnmowers, he spent time honing his skills before moving to the former depot on Weelsby Avenue in 1971. Over 20 years later, he moved to the current depot at Doughty Road to continue his role as a motor fitter, working on and repairing the Council’s fleet of lawnmowers. During his time working in the garage, he devoted most of his efforts to the lawnmowers used to cut grass in the borough’s parks and open spaces as well as the grass verges. It’s calculated that Lenny would have sharpened around two million lawnmower blades in his time at the Council. He said: “When I started out as an apprentice, I was working on all sorts. One day it’d be a wagon and the next a bin cart. “When I started it was only meant to be for six months, but my boss at the time asked me to stay and now I’ve done over half a century here. “In all those years, the thing I’ve enjoyed the most though is how friendly the other staff are and the banter we used to have with one another. “ For Lenny, the key to him staying so long was the satisfaction he got for fixing the machines. “I loved working on the mowers and it was something I was good at too. Once you got into it you could just keep going. “Granted, there were some times when the job could be quite difficult, but I always enjoyed the challenge of getting the lawnmower working again.” Reflecting on the past 56 years, it’s the people Lenny will miss the most. “Some people I’ve seen through their whole career. Take Danny Mills for example, I knew him when he was an apprentice and now I’m finishing with him as my boss. “I’m so thankful for everything they’ve done for me and for how friendly everyone has been to me during my time here.” Looking ahead to retirement, Lenny is hoping to spend more time relaxing. “I’m looking forward to not having to get up so early and being able to take time for myself after all these years. I’ll also be visiting my allotment plot more often.” However, even after all that time, Lenny isn’t completely giving up on repairing lawnmowers. “I’ll still be fixing the odd mower for friends and family and cutting my neighbour’s grass when I can.” Thanking Lenny for his dedication to the Council, Rob Walsh Chief Executive, said: “’I just want to say a huge thank you to Lenny on behalf of everyone associated with the Council. 56 years of service is simply immense. He enters retirement with our very best wishes and sincere gratitude; I can only imagine that he has many a story to tell!”

The team at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance are saying a huge thank you to David Grimwood and his family for raising a fantastic £3,000 from their Winkfest event. Held in The Swan pub at Moulton, Lincolnshire, the fundraiser featured raffles, auctions, tombola amongst other events.  First held in 2005, Winkfest has, 19 years later, turned into an annual fundraiser for LNAA’s life-saving work. David said: “Our event started as a surprise 80th birthday party for my our late mother. My nieces took her out for lunch while we got things ready and friends and family arrived.  What a shock then, when she arrived at the house and announced that she was only 79! We still went ahead with the party and mum decided we should raffle the presents that guests had brought and give the £80 raised to LNAA. We enjoyed the day so much we decided to do it again and call it Winkfest as my nickname is Wink! When mum passed away in 2020, Winkfest carried on growing in popularity each year. We outgrew our garden and when the lady of The Swan suggested we hold the event in the beer garden we gladly took up her offer.  This year was a great success with a local band providing the entertainment and almost 400 people attending. Winkfest is definitely here to stay and we are already planning for next year.” LNAA Community fundraiser, Jac Sutherland said: “We are extremely grateful for this fantastic donation. It is thanks to the generosity and goodwill of supporters who create fundraisers like Winkfest, that the crew can provide critical care to patients at scene, giving those with the most severe injuries and medical conditions the very best chance of survival when minutes matter.” It is thought that Winkfest has raised over £20,000 in total, that is equivalent to five life-saving missions.

In 2019, Newark and Sherwood District Council declared a Climate Emergency, setting a target to reduce the impact of climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. Monday’s Policy and Performance Improvement Committee was an opportunity for District Councillors to look at the progress that has been made towards this goal. The District Council’s carbon footprint for 2023/24 was 3,141 tonnes and the Council is working on reducing this through many activities and behaviour changes, including switching to greener utility providers and exploring alternative fuels like HVO for environmental services vehicles, which account for nearly a third of these emissions. In the past year alone, the Council has installed solar panels at Dukeries Leisure Centre, Vicar Water Country Park and Sconce and Devon Park as well as planting over 4500 trees across the district. Solar PV projects are also a major part of the District Council’s strategy to cut carbon emissions. The District Council has installed solar panels at multiple sites, saving money and reducing its carbon footprint. Projected savings over the next 12 months indicate that, across Newark Sports and Fitness Centre, Vicar Water Country Park, Dukeries Leisure Centre, Sconce and Devon Park, and The Beacon, carbon will be reduced by 74 tonnes and over £42,000 will be saved. A Decarbonisation Plan for Council buildings has been created in partnership with Newark firm BE Design. This plan outlines energy efficiency measures and carbon reduction strategies for sites including Blidworth Leisure Centre, Brunel Drive Depot, Castle House, Dukeries Leisure Centre, Newark Beacon, the Palace Theatre Newark and National Civil War Centre, Sconce and Devon Park and Vicar Water Country Park. In the past few years, The Carbon Trust has updated its stance on tree planting and now considers this a valid method for accounting for carbon savings. The District Council has been successful with tree planting schemes and plans to do more to offset carbon emissions in this way. Since 2019, over 19,000 trees have been planted or given away, and the Council is always looking for more opportunities to increase this number. This year, even more trees will be planted once planting season begins, including new trees on Clay Lane and Sherwood Avenue Park as part of its regeneration. The Green Rewards App was launched in the district in 2022, helping the community to make positive changes by logging carbon-reducing activities. With 608 residents signed up (a 5.2% increase since April 2024), 73 tonnes of carbon emissions have been avoided so far. Residents have also been aided in lowering their carbon emissions with the rollout of kerbside glass recycling, reducing multiple visits to and from recycling sites. £93,000 has recently been awarded to the Sherwood Forest Trust from the District Council’s UKSPF allocation to support a community tree nursery. Their goal is to plant 10,000 trees in the next 3 years and, so far, they’ve recruited 680 volunteers for planting and seed collection, gathered 40,000 seeds, planted 2,000 trees, and have 4,600 trees maturing on site, ready for planting. Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Climate and the Environment, said: “These are just some of the exciting initiatives the District Council is undertaking to help achieve our net zero targets by 2035. “This is an extremely important cause to me personally and we must act with urgency. The enthusiasm of our officers in pursuing this goal and thinking creatively about ways in which to do so is really heartening. “I recognise that setting an example for our residents is vital and we’re always looking for solutions to help residents reduce their carbon footprint, making it as easy for them as possible. “Together, our actions are securing cleaner air for residents and better protecting tenants’ homes and residents’ services against volatile energy prices. We’ve also got some exciting climate action plans up our sleeve and can’t wait to share our growing ambitions with you all soon.”

Money raised by a former chairman of South Kesteven District Council will be used to help men improve their mental health. Cllr Gloria Johnson has presented a cheque for £888 to the Place2Bee Mens group which is run by South Lincolnshire Blind Society at their BHive.Community hub in Finkin Street, Grantham. The money was raised during her 2023-24 year in office. Place2Bee offers a safe space for men to meet in a non-clinical environment where they can take part in activities as well as talk to trained volunteers about any issues they may have. It is open on Mondays from 6pm-9pm and Thursdays from 5.30pm-8.30pm. Cllr Johnson said she particularly wanted to support the group because of its work with former members of the Armed Forces. “My late husband served in the RAF for 23 years so it is a cause that is close to my heart,” she said. The money was presented to Susan Swinburn, chief executive of the South Lincolnshire Blind Society where the BHive is based. “Place2Bee gives men the time and space they need to relax and help each other,” she said. “On some evenings up to 50 men can attend, quite a few of whom are ex-forces and this very kind donation will help us to continue providing the help they need. “We are very grateful to Gloria for highlighting the issue and how important it is to provide support for men’s mental health in our community, this donation will help us to continue to provide that safe space just for men in a non-clinical environment in the heart of our town.”   Picture shows Cllr Gloria Johnson (left) with Susan Swinburn. Image credit: South Kesteven District Council

A new hub to support the wellbeing of care partners and provide practical advice and guidance has opened at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston. The Care Partner Hub is a joint venture between United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH) and Carers First and aims to improve the quality of life of care partners, including young carers, those caring for someone at the end of their life or with dementia and those that have been bereaved. Inside the hub, volunteers from ULTH and Carers First will be able to offer a wide range of services and comprehensive local resources, including carers assessment referrals and support, carers awareness training for professionals, and information, advice and signposting, in addition to being a friendly space for a chat with people that understand. The hub is open initially Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 12 noon and 4pm. Volunteers can also be contacted during these times on 01205 443093 or by emailing carepartnerhub@ulh.nhs.uk. The Care Partner Hub is part of ULTH’s commitment to recognising the invaluable role of carers as experts, and the hub will raise awareness of the Trust’s Care Partner Badge Scheme, which helps recognise the role of care partners within hospitals to give them greater flexibility to stay outside of visiting hours and inclusion in care, admittance and discharge discussions if they choose to be. Sharon Kidd, Patient Experience Manager at ULTH, said: “Part of supporting our patients is also about looking after those that look after them, especially as care partners are often the experts in understanding what their loved one may need. “Being a carer is a complex commitment, and creating a safe space just for them to talk to people that understand, and to be signposted to support they may be interested in accessing now or in the future, is a vital part of supporting their wellbeing and acknowledging the incredible service they provide. “One of the focuses of the hub is to raise awareness of what being a care partner can mean, and to spread awareness of the help on offer to those with caring responsibilities and their loved one, and to break stigmas of accepting help to encourage care partners to seek support in whatever capacity they need to prevent burnout, compassion fatigue or adversely impacting their own health and wellbeing.” Sam Marshall, Carers First Volunteer Manager, said: “We speak to many people that we would identify as carers, but often they say that they are just doing what families do and aren’t always aware of the levels of support on offer to them. “The new hub creates a space in a hospital setting that’s just for carers, where they can have discussions away from staff involved with the care of their loved one and put their needs at the centre of the conversation, whether that’s a coffee and a friendly chat or being brave enough to admit they’re struggling and need some help.” The refurbishment for the Care Partners Hub has been provided by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity. Ben Petts, Charity Manager, said: “Care partners play an unmeasurable role in supporting the health and wellbeing of their family members and companions, but unfortunately can often be unrecognised. “We’re delighted to be able to support a project that can help make care partners lives a little easier, whether that’s information and referrals to give them practical support, or friendly chat and wellbeing check-in with people that understand.”   Image credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Andrii

Landscape works have commenced to transform a former golf course into a wetland nature reserve in Lincolnshire. Located at Sandilands, near Sutton-on-Sea, the National Trust’s 62-acre site will see open water and islands, grasslands and sand-dunes, as well as reedbeds and ponds, complete with walkways and boardwalks. A new visitor centre and café, designed by local practice Jonathan Hendry Architects, will help fund the conservation of the wetland when the project completes in Spring 2026. Sandilands sits on the ‘east coast flyway’ migration route and the new reserve will be a vital resting and refuelling stop for birds as well as a habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife and flora. Newark-based Influence Landscape Planning & Design was appointed by the National Trust to deliver Stage 4 technical design services, and Stages 5-7 landscape architecture services for onsite monitoring for the implementation of the works. Shona Hatton, director at Influence Landscape Planning & Design, said: “We are very proud to be assisting the National Trust in the delivery of its first nature reserve in the county. The land formation for the wetland creation to the south of the site is well under way, and it’s already possible to get a real sense of what the final site will look like. “The Lincolnshire Coast is rich in biodiversity and the National Trust is working hard to protect and enhance the natural world here, creating new habitats for migrating birds and many other species. Our designs give nature a place to flourish, and inclusive, accessible spaces for people to enjoy it.” Kirsty James, general manager for Sandilands, said: “A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes and we are excited now to see work begin on the physical changes at Sandilands. “We’re looking forward to seeing the area transform to not only create a haven for wildlife, but also provide a peaceful and calm space for people to walk, spend time with friends and family, and simply enjoy the beauty of nature and the outdoors.”   Image: An impression of the wetland habitats – copyright National Trust, Peter Farmer, Wayne Lagden

Community projects and skills programmes in Boston and East Lindsey have been given a boost of more than £325,000 combined from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), distributed by the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, and Lincolnshire Community Foundation (LCF). Several community projects, sports clubs, parish councils and village halls have been awarded more than £250,000 across the two districts in the final round of funding from LCF’s GRASSroots scheme, which has been funded by UKSPF. The GRASSroots scheme has now given £1.9 million in grants. With match funding, this has led to a total investment of £2.9 million in parish councils, village halls and small community projects. Funding has also been awarded to support Boston’s Christmas Event, ensuring that the success of last year is repeated and developed further in support of town centre businesses. Additionally, more than £77,000 of savings generated through the efficient management of current contracts have been awarded to projects which fall under the People & Skills theme of the Partnership’s UKSPF programme. This has been awarded after a competition between existing UKSPF Skills projects which are already successfully delivering, in order to support them to ‘scale up’ and reach more residents at this late stage in the programme’s life. The GRASSroots funding has been awarded to: Boston: Leverton Village Hall – renovation of the hall, including upgrading the toilets and kitchen space, along with the addition of a wheelchair ramp. The Local Community Centre, Boston – New fire alarm system. Forbes Road Bowls Club, Boston – Fibreglass shelter and new spectators’ patio. Fishtoft 400 – Portable defibrillator and provision of mobility and balance classes. Friends of Holland Fen with Amber Hall – refurbishment of village hall toilets plus a new fridge/freezer. Swineshead Silver Band – External building works to weatherproof building. East Lindsey: East Lincolnshire Food Collective, Wragby – Distribution of food to East Coast communities along with setting up of Children Eat Free. North Thoresby Community Orchard – Acquisition, creation and installation of a community orchard space. Skegness Islamic Centre – Capital works to the community spaces and funding to support community activities. Thornton Le Fen Parish Council – The development of community greens incorporating Gipsey Bridge and Bunkers Hill. The Village Church Farm, Skegness – Development of an outdoor community space. Stixwold Village Hall – Community garden creation project. Horncastle Parkrun – Set up and running costs of a Parkrun group in Horncastle. Alvingham Village Hall – Heating, cooling and ventilation system. Horncastle & District Community Association – Replacement of centre windows. Partney Dalby & Dexthorpe Memory Victory Hall – Refurbishment of hall toilets. Covenham Village Volunteers – Replacing doors, upgrading kitchen facilities and building of fire exit. Swifts Junior FC, Ingoldmells – The building of a disabled toilet and refurbishment of two mixed use toilets. Baumber Village Hall – Building works to lay hardstanding and provide wheelchair accessibility. Additional funding for expanding successful projects: University of Lincoln – Higher Engineering – New to East Lindsey, this project has already been highly successful in Boston and South Holland. The University will deliver Level 4 ‘taster’ sessions introducing young people and adult learners to AI, Agri-Tech and careers in the food production sector. UK Fresh Produce Network (UKFPN) – Access to Finance and Institutional Investment Event – UKFPN will hold an event at the London Stock Exchange, inviting businesses from East Lindsey (mainly from the agricultural sector) to meet financial experts from banks, venture capital firms and institutional investors, with a view to securing additional inward investment. PAB Languages – Global Gateway – A programme supporting the development of entrepreneurship and upskilling employees of our larger businesses to engage with export and international markets – funding means it is now available in East Lindsey. Boston Town Centre 2024 Christmas Event – Funding towards the new synthetic ice rink at the event. Steadfast Training – Connect2Grow – A project which is helping individuals who are out of work with skills training and support, identifying suitable vacancies, providing job interviews and follow-on in-work support. Currently running in South Holland and Boston, this funding will open the project up to East Lindsey. Councillor Anne Dorrian, leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “It’s great to see a number of projects across the Borough receiving funding which I know will go towards making a huge difference to all of the communities involved. “I’m also delighted that funding has been made available for the town’s Christmas event this year. It promises to build on the success of last year’s event, which was also supported by the UKSPF, and will bring festive joy to our residents, businesses and visitors.” East Lindsey Councillors Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for The Coastal Economy, and Adam Grist, portfolio holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, said: “This final round of awards from LCF certainly does not disappoint, with several projects across the district receiving grants. Each one will have an impact on many people and we’re looking forward to seeing the results. “In addition to this, it is brilliant to see that skills programmes will be given a boost with further funding. Many people are already taking advantage of the free training on offer from a number of different providers, made possible by UKSPF, and we are pleased that many more will be able to do this as a result of this latest funding boost.”   Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Stockfotos-MG