- Reinstatement of the lost historic shop front
- Reinstatement of the first floor bay window
- Removal of PVC guttering and downpipes – to be replaced with cast iron features
- Reinstatement of the historic design of the second floor windows and gable
- Repairs to roof and front elevation
- Full redecoration of the front façade in heritage RAL colours
Restoration work begins on historic Cleethorpes building
Six months of work at an estimated cost of £200,000 has started on the latest project to receive Townscape Heritage Funding on Cleethorpes’ historic Alexandra Road.
The Townscape Heritage Project for Cleethorpes, supported by National Lottery Heritage Grant funding, has approved the next funding application to undertake works to No. 24 Alexandra Road, the Thai Oriental. This comes after the completion of the restoration of the historic balcony above this property that is continuous from No. 21.
In this project, specialist contractors Howson’s will restore the façade of the building, returning it to its former heritage glory.
The front elevation of the building will change dramatically, with the following works planned:
Men of the Dams Tribute installed at the International Bomber Command Centre to commemorate 80th anniversary
The International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC), near Lincoln, has installed a tribute to the Dambusters to mark the 80th anniversary, on 16/17 May, of this iconic operation.
The figures of the 53 men who lost their lives have been produced by a collaboration between Standing with Giants artist, Dan Barton, and military artist, Simon Smith.
The central focus is that of the crew of ED887 AJ-A who successfully breached the Möhne Dam. It was piloted by Sqn Ldr Henry Melvin “Dinghy” Young. The crew were hit only 200 yards from safety when the last land-based gun battery, at Wijk-aan-Zee, scored a hit. These figures and those of Wg Cdr Guy Gibson VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar and Bouncing Bomb inventor, Barnes Wallis, have been created from their photographs.
This installation follows the huge success of the Standing with Giants silhouettes for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands’ War, that were on display at the IBCC from October 22 to March 23.
In line with the new King’s wishes, this was a volunteer led project with 20 volunteers from Standing With Giants and the IBCC working on the installation to get it ready in time for the anniversary.
The installation, which is free to visit, will be in place until mid-August.
They will be officially unveiled at the annual InSpire event on 14 May as part of a Memorial service for Sqn Ldr George “Johnny” Johnson MBE DFM, the last Dambuster who was a great supporter of the IBCC and was Patron of the InSpire event.
Redevelopment, refurbishment and extension of Boston leisure centre approved
Plans for the redevelopment, refurbishment and two-storey extension to a Boston leisure centre have been approved. The proposals for the Geoff Moulder Leisure Centre would see the existing two pools retained which combined with the proposed changes would make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the community.
The plans form part of the £21.9m of funding received from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities Towns Funding programme which looks to provide additional facilities for the town, utilising here the public and training pools, under one roof.
This important project seeks to significantly enhance the appearance and functionality of the leisure centre; with a focus on the provision of new and improved facilities including new entrance; gym facilities; and a new changing village suitable for all users. The access to the centre would be remodelled and there would be a shared pick-up/drop-off and coach facility, along with a new high quality public plaza, providing an attractive and functional new place for people to enjoy.
A design statement submitted by the developers said the vision was for the site to “promote a contemporary aesthetic, forming a high-quality development which also enhances the appearance of the overall site.
“The considered scale and form of the extension respects the existing neighbouring homes, and the proposed new development for Boston College.
“The proposals will reflect Boston Council’s ambition to promote leisure activity in a modern and sustainable setting with the development playing a key role in the infrastructure of future growth.”
John Leach, Deputy Chief Executive for Communities at Boston Borough Council, said: “This decision is a very important step on the road to new improved leisure facilities for the borough.
“As you would expect the application was considered in detail by planning officers who took into account comments from a range of statutory consultees and local people.
“This redevelopment and extension will provide local residents and the wider area, with the facilities they want and rightly deserve.”
Mr Leach added the next steps would include engaging a main contractor to undertake the works and considerations regarding future operating models.
“I hope current and potential users of the centre are as excited as I am that the promise of a revised, refreshed, modern, family-orientated centre is becoming closer than ever with this scheme aiming to be delivered by Spring 2025.”
The Boston Town Deal Board said: “It is great news that planning consent has been granted for the redevelopment of the Geoff Moulder Leisure Complex.
“These significant improvement works are set to create new and enhanced leisure facilities for Boston that will play a crucial role in supporting local people’s health and wellbeing.
“We can also look forward to the complex linking with the exciting new Mayflower building through a proposed new plaza. This will create an enhanced public realm that will connect these important buildings, bringing together leisure and education facilities in the town all made possible by the significant Town Deal investment into these projects.”
Lindum commits to supporting Lincolnshire Tennis for two more years
Lindum Group has made a significant investment in local sport by continuing its sponsorship of Lincolnshire Tennis until at least December 2024.
The decision means the future of county’s annual Festival of Tennis and end of season Awards Ceremony is secured for two more years.
Lindum has been the main sponsor of Lincolnshire Tennis since January 2018. The support allows the organisation to funds programmes which are not covered by the Lawn Tennis Association.
John Copsey, Chairman of Lincolnshire Tennis said: “We are delighted the partnership with Lindum Group is to continue for at least a further two years. We are so fortunate to have found a main sponsor that fits in with our own ideals & ethos of our great sport.
“Since 2018, Lindum’s support has helped us to fund our programmes where the LTA don’t, providing greater support to our clubs, our coaches, our many players and our county teams. Two particular areas of support are the Lindum Lincolnshire & LTA Awards and the Lindum Lincolnshire Festival of Tennis. Banners promoting our partnership will also be provided for display over the coming weeks at all Lincolnshire registered clubs.”
Lincolnshire Tennis is the local volunteer arm of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and supports the needs of 38 registered clubs and its many thousands of members across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
David Chambers, Chairman of Lindum Group, said: “We are very pleased to be able to continue our support of Lincolnshire Tennis. Our company has a long-standing association with the sport, which is also a personal passion of mine.
“This partnership also reflects Lindum’s wider ambition of investing in our local communities and nurturing talent, a philosophy which underpins our training and apprenticeship programmes.
“We are pleased to be working with an organisation which not only provides today’s players with excellent facilities across Lincolnshire but also serves up a platform for the next generation of tennis stars.”
Environment Agency begins £7m beach-boosting sand import on Lincolnshire coast
Within the next two months a beach regeneration programme costing £7m will see 400,000 cubic metres of sand topping up beaches between Saltfleet and Gibraltar Point, reducing the risk of flooding for Lincolnshire’s coastal communities.
The Environment Agency’s annual beach management sees sand dredged from licensed areas of the seabed. This is then pumped onto the beach to replace levels naturally lost to the sea throughout the year. This reduces the risk of flooding for 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans and 35,000 hectares of land.
Replenishing the sand means that the beaches, instead of hard defences like sea walls, take the brunt of the waves’ force and energy. This reduces the amount of damage and erosion to those hard defences and lessens the risk of water overtopping them.
The Environment Agency has been restoring sand levels on the Lincolnshire coast every year since 1994. In addition to reducing flood risk, the work brings supplementary social and economic benefits by retaining the sandy beaches for a vibrant tourism industry.
Deborah Campbell, Flood Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “As well as reducing the risk of flooding to 20,000 homes and businesses, 24,500 static caravans and 35,000 hectares of land. The work helps maintain the county’s sandy beaches for us all to enjoy.
But despite our best efforts, flooding can still happen. That’s why we urge people to prepare and plan for the worst, including by signing up to receive free flood warnings.
Work is already in progress at Huttoft, and will progress along the coast in stages at these approximate dates:- Mablethorpe, 13 to 15 May.
- Trusthorpe, 16 to 23 May.
- Sutton on Sea, 24 to 25 May.
- Boygrift, 26 to 31 May.
- Chapel Six Marshes, 1 June to 5 June.
- Trunch Lane, 6 June to 11 June.
- Ingoldmells, 11 June to 15 June.
- Wolla Bank, 15 June to 18 June.
New phase of employment space delivered in Lincoln
Local contractor and developer, Stirlin, has completed a new phase of employment space on their development in Lincoln: Kirk’s Yard.
Kirk’s Yard is a commercial business park located just outside the village of Branston, approximately 4 miles from Lincoln City Centre.
Stirlin completed the first two phases of the development back in March 2019, with all units occupied by a variety of established local businesses, including Gateway Automation, Lincolnshire Radiators Direct and TL Electrical Engineering.
Following the success of these phases, Stirlin has now delivered a third phase, to provide 10 industrial units suitable for a variety of business uses, ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft.
Sustainable elements of the scheme include energy efficient lighting, bike racks to encourage the cycle to work scheme and the recycling of existing topsoil from the land, which has been used for the landscaped areas around the site. Stirlin also offer buyers the option to include a renewable energy solar system on the units.
Managing Director of Stirlin, Tony Lawton, says: “Our Kirk’s Yard site has proven very popular, particularly due to its location, so it’s great to provide further employment space to meet the demand and facilitate business growth in the area.
“In addition to this scheme, we have several other projects in the pipeline for 2023. We are also open to contractual work, and we encourage people to get in touch to discuss their requirements.”
With the completion of the third phase, Stirlin have transformed 2.2 acres of vacant land on Mere Road into over 33,000 sq ft of new employment space.
Restaurant group cooking up a brighter future with purchase of flagship site in Lincoln
An independent East Midlands hospitality group has cemented its future in the region through the purchase of its flagship site in Lincoln, with support from Lloyds Bank.
Established in 2009, Ever So Sensible Restaurants now operates ten food-led hospitality venues across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire, all of which are currently trading well.
A £700,000 finance package from Lloyds Bank has enabled the group to purchase the freehold of one of its most popular venues, the Duke William Hotel – pub, restaurant, with a boutique style hotel, located in the centre of the historic Bailgate in Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter. The hotel has nine ensuite rooms and an adjacent cottage.
The purchase now means Ever So sensible will be able to consider enabling long term investment in the building and the opportunity to expand its accommodation options in the city through the purchase of nearby properties.
It marks the first freehold site purchased by the group and will act as a template for future acquisitions of its other leased buildings to help maximise the potential of all its sites. This, in combination with further planned acquisitions of new locations.
The group employs more than 200 staff across its venues, including around 30 at the Duke William. Already the holder of an Investors in People Gold Accreditation, the group plans to invest further in its team by enhancing its existing training and development programme, which includes butchery courses, brewery training and gin distilling. The Duke William also hopes to use its greater independence to offer permanent employment to some of its currently contracted staff, such as its cleaners.
Ever So Sensible is investing in sustainability. At the Duke William, it recently installed electric vehicle charging points in its car park. The venue also sources all its ingredients locally where possible, has switched to 100% renewable energy, and is working to reduce its food waste.
Chris Bulaitis, Managing Director at Ever So Sensible Restaurants, said: “When we first took over the Duke William Hotel six years ago, the building was semi-derelict. With Lloyds Bank’s support, we are now the proud owners of this beautiful historic building, which we have completely refurbished and transformed into a high-end local destination, serving fantastic food and employing some of the best people in the industry.
“With our ownership of the building now secured, we’re looking forward to a busy summer at the Duke William, as well as looking into opportunities to expand our footprint, both locally and through the acquisition of further venues in the East Midlands.”
Nick Flanagan, relationship director, SME banking at Lloyds Bank, said: “Despite the challenges currently facing the hospitality industry, Ever So Sensible Restaurants is a perfect example of a resilient local business which is prospering. Its focus on sourcing locally, operating sustainably, and investing in its staff has helped the Duke William to thrive in the face of rising costs and staffing shortages. This latest finance package will also further secure the businesses’ future.
“We have been by the side of the group since it was established, and we look forward to supporting them further as they grow.”
Red Arrows ‘Make a Wish’ at Neale Court
Staff at Neale Court Care Home in Lincoln were thrilled when two of their residents’ wish to see the Red Arrows up close came true on the day of the King’s Coronation.
As part of the Country Court ‘Make a Wish’ initiative, residents are given the opportunity to tell members of staff about somewhere they had always wanted to go or a special activity they had always wanted to do.
Residents Alan and Laurie spoke to staff about their time serving in the Royal Air Force and mentioned how much they admired the Red Arrows. The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Waddington. The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.
Christine Harding, the wellbeing coordinator at Neale Court began by contacting RAF Waddington and posted on social media to see if anyone would be able to help.
Eventually she was contacted by Steve Kelly, the chief technician at RAF Red Arrows, who kindly invited Alan and Laurie to visit RAF Waddington to meet the Red Arrows team. The pair were invited to watch as they prepared to take off for the flypast on the day of King Charles III Coronation, over Buckingham Palace in London. This was an opportunity not to be missed so the planning and organising commenced.
Alan, who is 94, worked for the Royal Air Force for forty years, beginning his career as a radar engineer. He was based at RAF North Luffenham for some of the time and he also had two tours in Cyprus. He likes to tell people that he was in the Royal Air Force for ten years before he got near an aeroplane. It is obvious that when talking about his career, he is extremely proud of being part of the Royal Air Force.
Laurie, who is 85, spent thirty years in the Royal Air Force, with some of the time as a clerk and then working in the storeroom.
During the visit to RAF Waddington, they were able to reminisce about their time and Steve and his team gave a knowledgeable tour around the hangar.
The pair were able to get up close to some of the planes which were in the hangar being checked, watching the pilots get into their planes and seeing them taxi towards the runway as they headed off for the flypast, over London.
They were invited to stay to watch the flypast on the large screen in their tea bar, so Alan and Laurie had the full experience and to feel part of the historic event for the King’s Coronation.
They were kept up to date with what was happening due to the weather conditions, and they were extremely grateful to be able to see the Red Arrows go ahead and flypast Buckingham Palace only a few minutes after they had left RAF Waddington.
Laurie said: “It was amazing, I loved it. Those guys continue to do a good job like we did. It has been a brilliant day.”
Alan said: “It was amazing to hear the sound of the engines as the Red Arrows started up. What a great day.”
Chris, the wellbeing coordinator, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to make this wish happen, we all had a fabulous day with lots of stories shared. Thanks to the kindness of chief technician Steve Kelly and his team at RAF Waddington, this is an unforgettable experience for Alan and Laurie, and everyone involved.”
For more information about Neale Court Care Home, or to make an appointment to view the home, please contact Kayleigh Moss home manager on 01522 682 201 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.
Inspire Education Group celebrate ‘Good’ news
Peterborough College, Stamford College and the partnership provisions that form Inspire Education Group (IEG), have been rated ‘Good’ alongside the highest outcome of ‘Strong’ in meeting skills needs under the new enhanced Ofsted inspection framework for colleges and schools in England.
This news follows the recent publication of the latest National Achievement Rates Tables (NARTs) which ranks Inspire Education Group in the top 3% of General Further Education (GFE) Colleges (5th out of 168 colleges) nationally for GCSE English and maths results, and in the top 20% of GFE Colleges nationally for overall achievement rates of 16 to 18-year-olds (28th out of 160 colleges).
Both the Ofsted inspection outcome and the recently published national data evidences how the Inspire Education Group delivers on its mission to ‘Transform lives through inspirational education and training’.
Consequently, Inspire Education Group has seen its popularity soar, with a substantial increase in student admissions in 2022, resulting in an additional 200 young people choosing the Inspire Education Group, taking the total enrolments of 16 to 18-year-olds to 4,600 in 2022/23, with a significant increase in applications to date for September 2023.
This growth is not only testament to the quality of education and training on offer but also to the significant breadth of curriculum available across the Group. The wide-ranging course offer, which includes technical and vocational courses, A Levels, T Levels, Apprenticeships, specific courses that enable adults to retrain as well as higher level qualifications including degrees means that students, parents and employers have a huge choice of options when it comes to their education and training.
The recent four-day Ofsted inspection across both the Stamford and Peterborough campuses was the first inspection since the Colleges merged in 2020, and the Group’s leaders and governors are thrilled that the subsequent report positively recognises the Group’s key strengths and impact on the students, employers and communities served.
Ofsted grades awarded as per the order in the report were as follows:
Overall effectiveness – Good
The quality of education – Good
Behaviour and attitudes – Good
Personal development – Good
Leadership and management – Good
Education programmes for young people – Good
Adult learning programmes – Outstanding
Apprenticeships – Requires improvement
Provision for learners with high needs – Outstanding
Rachel Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Education Group, said: “Peterborough College and Stamford College have been rightly recognised as fantastic places to study and work and is testament to the hard work of our students and staff. We are particularly proud of the ‘Outstanding’ grades awarded to our Adult provision and High Needs provision, which demonstrates our innovation, excellence and the positive impact we have on our students and communities.
“We are 100% focussed on further developing our apprenticeship provision, which we recognise is not at the standard we expect and which has been materially impacted by the difficulties to recruit specialist lecturers and assessors, particularly in Engineering and Construction.”
Highlights of the complimentary Ofsted report included recognition that “staff at all levels care passionately about the wellbeing of their students,” which the Group believe is an essential ingredient for student success and an increasing priority since the pandemic.
Furthermore, Ofsted stated that “students and apprentices develop substantial new knowledge and skills” and in particular, praised the Group’s “ethos that courses should be about careers rather than qualifications.” The report also acknowledged the ‘wide-ranging industry connections’ that ensure, “stakeholders and employers provide valuable input into the taught curriculum” resulting in, “students progressing to positive destinations at the end of their courses.”
The Colleges’ phenomenal reputation for excellent English and maths results were also recognised by Ofsted who stated: “Students achieve very good results in their English and mathematics qualifications and develop the skills they need for career progression.”
The Inspectors also commended the highly productive partnerships that “provide high-quality employability skills training,” with the report further identifying that adult students particularly “study demanding programmes in an exceptionally positive, supportive learning environment.” As a result, Ofsted determined “most see a swift improvement in their knowledge and skills and make excellent progress on their courses.”
When judging the quality of provision for those learners with high needs for whom additional funding is awarded by local authorities, Ofsted said they had an “exceptionally positive experience” and that “leaders and managers are extremely ambitious for students to achieve positive outcomes and participate fully.” This evidences the inclusive culture at the Inspire Education Group which enables all students to thrive and succeed regardless of the barriers they may face.
Chair of the Board of Governors, Ian Jackson, said: “I am immensely proud of the achievements of our students and the hard work of all our staff, which have been rightly recognised by the Ofsted inspection team.
“After serving as a governor for over 10 years and as Chair for five years, it feels like the right time to step away, knowing that the Group is in an excellent position to build on its success and transition into its next phase of development.
“I will continue to support the work of the Group and have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a governor. I am exceptionally proud of the impact we have on the communities we serve; we truly do transform lives.”
Lincolnshire Chamber plans summer garden party at Wellingore Hall
Businesses from across Lincolnshire are being invited to attend the upcoming Summer Garden Party organised by Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and its event partners Waldeck, Nicholsons and University of Lincoln.
The event will take place during the afternoon of Thursday 3rd August at Wellingore Hall where guests will be welcomed to the Grade II* listed Building with complimentary drinks served on the Halls Garden area, which has spectacular countryside views.
Sponsored and supported by event premium partners; Waldeck and Nicholsons Chartered Accountants the event will provide businesses across Lincolnshire with the chance to network to build up contact lists and strengthen existing relationships, but this one should make for a very enjoyable event.
Charlotte Watson, Deputy Chief Executive at Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to be launching our Summer Garden Party but even more delighted to be working with three of our members to bring this summer event full of networking, garden games and good food.
“Come along with friends, colleagues or clients and network in a friendly and relaxed environment hopefully while enjoying the sunshine.”
Hannah Cook, Head of Marketing & Communications, Waldeck shared: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce to host this year’s Summer Garden Party. We are excited to be able to welcome friends and connections from across Lincolnshire to our beautiful Head Office for what we are sure will be a fun and insightful afternoon!”
Emma Murray, Director, Nicholsons Chartered Accountants, said: “We are delighted to be a premium partner for the upcoming Summer Garden Party. We’ve worked with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce many times over the years, including previous iterations of the Summer Garden Party and they’ve always been a huge success and a must attend event for any Lincolnshire business. Who doesn’t love a good garden party, and we certainly can’t wait to soak up some sun and spend time with the many diverse and successful businesses, all based right here in Lincolnshire.”
