Badgers cause highway headache in Mablethorpe
Lincolnshire County Council is in a race against time to restore a road in the centre of Mablethorpe after badgers have tunnelled under it.
The badgers have dug under Seaholme Road in the town, and repairs must be finished before the end of November, after which it’s illegal to dig around badger setts. That would mean leaving the work until next July, with the road closed in the meantime.
Badgers are a protected species, all works on their setts have to be done between July and the end of November due to the badgers’ mating season. What’s more, a start in the work has been delayed whilst Natural England granted a licence, insisting that the road had to be closed during the work to keep the badgers safe.
Cllr Richard Davies said it was extremely frustrating that the council had not been given this licence until now, and the holdup meant that delays were inevitable for drivers.
North Lincolnshire Council steps in with alternative winter fuel payment for pensioners
Three thousand pensioners that will miss out on the winter fuel payment this year will be given a £200 boost by North Lincolnshire Council.
The council has looked at how it could help the pensioners most in need following the Government’s decision to scrap the winter fuel payment for the vast majority of pensioners. Further investment is also being provided to pensioners through an air fryer and slow cooker programme that will be available to all residents of pension age.
The money will be given to pensioners who do not qualify for pensioners tax credit but do receive council tax support. There is no need to apply – letters will be sent direct to those eligible that they can exchange for the £200 at any post office.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have looked at how best to support the most vulnerable pensioners following the Government’s cruel decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for most pensioners.
“With some pensioners having to decide whether to eat or heat we had to act and are investing £600,000 to help those most in need. In addition, our investment in helping older people with air fryers and slow cookers will help ensure our residents will be able to limit their energy usage whilst also supporting healthy eating.
“The money will be in people’s pockets before Christmas, going some way to help older people who may be struggling with high bills this winter.
“This is on top of the other support the council provides to pensioners – such as an energy switching service, open access libraries which serve as warm locations, leisure packages, a free bus pass and free car parking.”
Aldi encourages charities to register for free food
Supertmarket Aldi is calling on charities, community groups and food banks in Lincolnshire to register to receive surplus food donations from its stores this Christmas.
In partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly, the supermarket’s Lincolnshire stores donate surplus food year-round. But with all stores set to close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, the festive season provides an opportunity for even more charities to benefit from the partnership.
Charities will be paired with local Aldi stores this Christmas and will be able to collect fresh and chilled food products nearing the end of their shelf life.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know that the services provided by our incredible charity partners are needed now more than ever. That’s why we are dedicated to providing as much support as possible for the communities we serve this Christmas.”
Steve Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer at Neighbourly, added: “Christmas can be a challenging time for some families, and we expect many will depend on the services of local charities this year.
“We’re sure there are lots more groups out there that could use the extra help that businesses like Aldi provide, so we encourage them to sign up.”
Any groups interested in collecting unsold food at Christmas that are not currently working with Neighbourly can get in touch with them at aldi@neighbourly.com by Friday 8th November.
Housebuilder submits plans to deliver 170-home development in Lincolnshire
Housebuilder Honey has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 12.3-acre site in Witham St Hughs, Lincolnshire, to deliver a £45m, 170-home development.
The proposed site, which will be called Nova, is located off Warren Lane and is a short drive from the A46.
Subject to planning, the development will comprise a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes and feature 17 of Honey’s different house types. Of the 170 homes, 28 have been allocated as affordable housing.
The proposed site in Witham St Hughs will form part of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan which looks to ensure that all new homes are well-designed and in appropriate locations to benefit the needs of the community.
If given the go ahead by North Kesteven District Council, work at the development is anticipated to start in early 2025 with the first residents expected to move in by the end of next year.
Since being launched in October 2022, Honey has secured 19 sites across Yorkshire and the East Midlands that will deliver 2,349 homes and a combined gross development value of £665m.
The housebuilder is backed by private equity firm Alchemy Partners and its Alchemy Special Opportunities Fund IV which has £937m of fully committed capital.
Honey Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “Our thorough market research identified Witham St Hughs as a popular residential location for us to build in and expand our development footprint in the East Midlands.
“We are seeing strong demand for high-specification homes from prospective buyers living in and looking to move to the local area. Our thoughtfully designed homes, which combine style, substance and sustainability will satisfy this.
“Now that we have exchanged contracts and submitted plans for our Nova development, we look forward to North Kesteven District Council considering our proposal.”
Heritage and culture provision celebrated
Work being done to review the Heritage and Culture offer in the district has been a topic of discussion this week. At Monday’s Newark and Sherwood District Council Policy and Performance Improvement Committee, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts, Councillor Rowan Cozens, presented a summary of activity, both undertaken and planned, to offer more arts engagement for local residents.
Comments in the 2022 Resident Survey called for more arts and culture events and activities, and, over the past year, the District Council has worked with local partners on a number of relevant projects.
The Council has continued to work with other members of Newark Cultural Consortium to deliver and promote Newark Creates events including the very popular Wild In Art BookBenches around Newark, the daisy themed installation over Newark Market Place and the fantastic Festival of Creativity.
An agreement has also been made with Newark Town Council to provide curatorial support for the Town Hall museum and to work towards better alignment with the National Civil War Centre – Newark Museum.
Many of the events not only fulfil the desire for more arts activities but also align with other objectives from the Council’s Community Plan. For example, in support of the Motion for the Ocean, artists have been commissioned to develop initiatives in Clipstone and Ollerton and to work with local schoolchildren to produce the summer surfboards and beach hut exhibition in Newark’s Buttermarket while community art projects in Balderton have also shared this theme.
Various graffiti art projects have also promoted the Council’s values around green initiatives.
Councillor Cozens said: “It has been such a positive year in Heritage and Culture with a fantastic amount of activity taking place and an amazing number of residents engaging with the arts.
“Heritage, culture and the arts are hugely important for so many reasons, from bringing people together to supporting mental health and highlighting how wonderful our community is.
“Because of these benefits and their value, there is always more that we can do and there are so many exciting projects in the pipeline. These include, after around 40 years of false starts, the first credible and costed plan to site the Kiddey Sculptures which could mark the start of a new art trail across the town taking in a dozen businesses.
“We are also looking forward to building work starting early next year for the Castle Gatehouse project for which we have secured £1.2 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and a further £3.3 million from the Towns Fund.
“£80,000 has also been approved though the budget process to deliver plans aimed at increasing access to music in Newark and Sherwood which are being informed by feedback from local musicians and music providers.”
Last year, Arts Council England awarded the Heritage and Culture provision at the Council ‘National Portfolio Organisation’ status and, through this, an array of ‘Open Doors’ activity has been delivered across the district including music works in Ollerton for people with care and support needs; arts awards for home-educated children in the Millgate area of Newark; music and movement sessions for children and their parents in Rainworth; community led touring exhibitions in Bilsthorpe themed around mining; and work with the visually impaired to develop arts projects with Newark’s train stations.
Recent work through the NPO has enabled items from the Council’s collection of 95,000 objects, many of which have local or national significance, to be taken out into the community across the district as part of the ‘Our Heritage’ project.
The NPO has also funded a series of Artists in Residence at the National Civil War Centre who have had the opportunity to display objects from the reserve collection in their gallery to inspire their work.
The Centre itself has recently been awarded the national Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award for Best Small Museum, recognising the fantastic range of events for all ages which take place there from a Mini Museum toddler group on Thursday mornings to monthly Family Saturday events and Hidden History Walking Tours of the town, all resulting in admissions being 25% ahead of target for the first quarter of 2024.
The Learning and Participation Team at the Centre have also been honoured with the prestigious Sandford Award for their nationally acclaimed schools programme.
The neighbouring Palace Theatre Newark has also had a successful year, having just hosted the national Bill Kenwright Ltd. tour of Blood Brothers to sold-out crowds. Their varied and thriving programme of shows, from drama to ballet, comedy, music, and community dance and theatre, culminates in the annual pantomime.
In 2023, this achieved record sales and this year’s Aladdin sales are currently a full house ahead of where they were last year. General theatre admissions were also up 55% for the first quarter of the year from the same period in 2023.
The Council’s Arts Development Team have also been working with the community and arts partners to deliver activities including the Live and Local Village Ventures programme, a live arts programme which takes place in rural communities each year, while the artistic talents of residents have recently been recognised with a photography competition celebrating the district.
Rutland Hall Hotel welcomes West End performers for Christmas extravaganza
Rutland Hall Hotel, in partnership with Vision Live Events, is excited to be bringing a larger-than-life West End experience to the UK’s smallest county of Rutland.
On Saturday, 30th November, a troupe of experienced performers will be singing, dancing and entertaining an audience of over 350 in the Pavilion Venue at Rutland Hall.
In addition to a welcome drink and two course meal, attendees will be treated to a live and immersive performance.
“This supercharged event will blend West End musical flair with festive singalongs. Alongside timeless hits from Jersey Boys, there will be plenty of seasonal songs, a dedicated dance troupe, plus the ever-popular acrobatic Lex and his LED wheel.
“The Jersey Quartet Christmas Experience is a first for Rutland and is going to give us all a fabulous night to remember,” explains Kate Cadman, Marketing Manager, Rutland Hall Hotel.
Following the live performances, guests will be encouraged to dance the night away, making it a perfect event for families (with older children), friends, and corporate get togethers.
“There are still tickets available, but these are selling fast, so make sure you book soon to avoid disappointment,” adds Kate.
Ticketing & Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
- Location: The Pavilion, Rutland Hall Hotel
- Ticket Price: £65 per person, including dinner, a welcome cocktail and live show
- Booking Information: Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Link here: Jersey Quartet Christmas Experience – Rutland Hall)
District Council provides update on Climate Emergency actions
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.”
Former South Kesteven District Council chairman supports men’s mental health
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
Wanted: New Lincolnshire Co-op store sites could earn £5,000 reward for finders
Lincolnshire Co-op has taken a radical step in its search for about 30 new stores by offering a £5,000 finder’s fee to anyone who can identify a suitable location.
It has pledged to pay the money when stores are opened on the identified sites as it seeks to expand its food business by about a third.
Following a £1.8m investment, Laceby Food Store near Grimsby opened in late June, and Scartho Food Store, also near Grimsby, opens this week.
As well as building new stores, the Co-op is open to renovating existing buildings, taking on freehold and leasehold sites, and business acquisitions.
The retailer has expressed interest in sites within Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, and North Norfolk.
Steve Leach, Lincolnshire Co-op’s COO, said: “We have an ambition to be the UK’s fastest growing co-operative, and we’re keen to deliver even more valued services.
“We’re driven by our purpose, which is to make life better in our communities. Having a presence in more communities means we’re able to make even more of an impact.”
New hub to support the wellbeing of care partners at Pilgrim Hospital
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
