King approves nomination of new Dean of Lincoln
The King has approved the nomination of The Reverend Canon Dr Simon Jones, Chaplain and Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, to be Dean of Lincoln to succeed Christine Wilson following her resignation.
Simon was educated at the College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham and also at Selwyn College, Cambridge.
He trained for ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge and served his title at Tewkesbury (St Mary the Virgin) with Walton Cardiff and Twyning, in the Diocese of Gloucester. He was ordained priest in 2000.
In 2002, Simon was appointed Chaplain and Fellow of Merton College, Oxford. He was installed as an Honorary Canon of Christ Church, Oxford in 2015, and as a Wiccamical Prebendary of Chichester Cathedral in 2016.
He is a consultant to the Church of England Liturgical Commission and chairs the steering committee of the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation. He served as Interim Dean of Lincoln for nine months in 2023.
New, future vision of transport for Stamford
Improved public transport, better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and town centre form part of the new, future vision of transport in Stamford.
Lincolnshire County Council has drawn up a new strategy for Stamford that aims to improve transport and support future development to 2036 and beyond.
The document is set to be reviewed and voted on by the county council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Monday 29 April.
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “The main purpose of our new strategy is to provide the people, businesses and organisations in Stamford with a transport system that helps meet their daily needs now and well into the future.
“By offering a wider range of affordable, reliable and environmentally-friendly travel options for people to choose from, we hope to meet changing travel demands while also supporting planned economic growth in and around the area.
“This will hopefully lead to more people using alternative forms of transport, resulting in less congestion on the roads and a more pleasant town centre, making Stamford a more prosperous, attractive and healthier place to live, learn, work and visit.
“Within the strategy, you’ll find a number of proposals for us, the district council and developers to consider over the next twenty years, including enhancements to the town centre; the area’s roads; and its cycling and walking infrastructure.
“Combined with other measures, like improving bus and rail services, the strategy aims to ensure that Stamford has the infrastructure it needs to meet travel demands over the coming decades.”
As part of the strategy’s development, a series of public drop-in events and stakeholder workshops were held, along with a survey that received over 500 responses.
Some of the aspirations within the draft strategy include:
Image: Stock.adobe.com/Nicola - Enhancing the walking and pedestrian environment, including footway widening; wayfinding improvements; and pedestrian crossing improvements
- Improving Stamford’s cycle network by improving cycle hire and cycle parking and providing high-quality infrastructure to encourage more people to travel by bike
- Looking at opportunities to develop a series of enhanced transport hubs across Stamford to improve how people access different modes of travel, adapted to each location and potentially including improvements to the railway station and bus station
- Enhancing bus journey times and reliability, including improving the frequency of local bus services and working with providers to introduce smarter ticketing arrangements
- Improving the highway network by supporting the delivery of the town’s urban extensions, including working with partners to deliver the Stamford North link road which would link the B1081 Old Great North Road to A6121 Ryhall Road
- Supporting the uptake of electric vehicles by increasing the availability of public charging points
- Improving safety and the town centre environment by looking at opportunities to change speed limits in the town centre, particularly near schools and in the surrounding residential area
- Improving pedestrian crossings at locations across the town centre
- Considering the implementation of parking restrictions; residents parking schemes; and removing some public on-street parking within the town centre to create a safer pedestrian environment
- Considering opportunities to widen and improve the existing footways in Stamford’s centre including along St. Mary’s Hill, St. Mary’s Street, Castle Street, St. George’s Street, St. Leonards Street, St. Paul’s Street, Broad Street, All Saints Street, and St. Peter’s Street
- Assessing the feasibility of and benefits of developing a one-way system and widening footways in the town centre, including: Broad Street, Star Lane, St. George’s Street, St Mary’s Street, St. John’s Street, Red Lion Square, and Red Lion Street
- Assessing the feasibility of making the eastern end of Scotgate one-way and widening the footways
- Assessing feasibility of pedestrianising Maiden Lane from High Street to St. Mary’s Street
- Creation of a cycle route along the B1081 Casterton Road linking to the existing cycle-friendly route along Empingham Lane towards Rutland Water
Strike threatened at University of Lincoln as over 220 jobs put on the line
Staff at the University of Lincoln are poised to take a stand against “brutal cuts,” with a consultation over potential strike action having begun.
The cuts involve over 220 employees, including one in ten academic staff, according to University and College Union (UCU). Cuts include the phasing out of the fashion degree and ending specialist support for widening participation students in the foundation studies centre. The centre’s teaching team have been notified their jobs are at risk.
Despite the most recent accounts showing that in 2022/23 the university ran a £3m operating surplus and had £46m in cash reserves, a directive was issued last week, underscoring the necessity to slash the budget by £30m by the end of the 2025 financial year, the UCU notes.
Some cuts have already been made with modern languages provision being shut down and eight staff losing their jobs.
UCU Lincoln acting chair Dr Rob Dean said: “It is simply impossible to slash so many jobs without severely impacting current students, future students and diminishing the university’s vital role as a cornerstone of regional education.
“Furthermore, not only are many people in danger of losing their jobs, but we are also extremely concerned that those remaining will be left with unmanageable workloads.
“Without a transparent assessment of past decisions and a commitment to accountability, there is a risk of perpetuating the same errors, endangering the institution’s future stability.
“However, the impact of this extends beyond the confines of academia. The local economy will also be affected. In a small city like Lincoln the number of proposed cuts threaten to undermine the socioeconomic fabric of the region, exacerbating existing challenges and inequalities.”
‘You’re disgusting’, council leader tells tenfoot fly tippers
North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham has branded blasted litterers and flytippers as disgusting for their incessant dumping of more rubbish as fast as earlier heaps are cleared away.
In one operation, 40 tonnes of rubbish was cleared up from tenfoots in the Crosby area of Scunthorpe, only for more to reappear within 24 hours.
“There’s no other was to say it – these people are disgusting,” said Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council. “How they can think it is acceptable in any way to blight our communities and create a health hazard in our streets like this is beyond me. Make no mistake – we will come down hard on anyone dropping litter or dumping rubbish.”
The council undertakes regular bulky item collections and foot patrols and doorknocks take place three times a week. Tenfoots are checked and cleared weekly.
The council has a number of measures designed to punish the dumpers. These include:
- More than 350 people have been fined for littering in the Crosby area in the past 12 months and more than 150 warnings and notices served.
- Installation of CCTV cameras and improved street lighting.
- Proposal to introduce a Selective Licensing scheme which would give the council more powers to punish landlords and tenants for anti-social behaviour.
£1.8bn Viking Link project between Lincolnshire and Denmark launched
National Grid has formally launched the £1.8bn project Viking Link, a 475-mile-long land and subsea cable connecting British and Danish energy grids for the first time.
Running from Bicker Fen converter station in Lincolnshire to one in southern Jutland, Denmark, across both land and sea, Viking Link is sharing British and Danish wind power as both countries become hubs of clean energy in Europe, acting as cornerstone nations for the North Sea super grid of the future.
Viking Link is National Grid’s sixth interconnector and the UK’s ninth, and is a vital instrument in delivering low cost, low carbon power to UK consumers – helping both power grids to balance the peaks and troughs that come with the growing amount of wind power needed to tackle climate change.
Since it commenced initial operations in December 2023, Viking Link has transported 1,733 gigawatt hours (GWh) of power between the two countries – a figure that will only increase over time.
With UK renewables volumes only set to increase, by the 2030s the UK is anticipated to become a net exporter of power, making Viking Link and other interconnectors even more valuable. However, the ability to import power when renewable output is low will be even more vital to ensuring consumer demand is met at the most affordable prices possible.
With Viking Link’s launch and the pipeline of interconnector projects, including LionLink and Nautilus, National Grid is delivering the infrastructure that will directly enable the deployment of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.
In its first year alone, Viking Link is expected to save 600,000 tonnes of carbon emissions – equal to taking 280,000 cars off UK roads. National Grid’s interconnector fleet as a whole will have helped the UK to avoid around 100 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030, with 90% of the energy imported from zero carbon energy sources.
Viking Link alone will bring over £500 million of savings for UK consumers in its first decade of operations, while also providing enough power for 2.5million households.
Group CEO of National Grid John Pettigrew said: “In an ever-changing global energy market, the value that connections like Viking Link can provide to national energy security cannot be understated.
“Over its lifespan, this record-breaking connection will deliver over five billion pounds in efficiencies for UK consumers, allow us to trade hundreds of gigawatts in surplus power and provide an indispensable tool in guaranteeing the continued reliability of our energy system.
“Projects like this are emblematic of the efforts National Grid will make to deliver for customers and climate alike. I’m delighted that we have been able to come together with industry leaders and those who collectively spent four million working hours over five years building Viking Link to recognise that.”
He adds: “Physical connections to other countries are central to the international collaboration that sits at the heart of the energy transition we are undergoing.
“Our existing fleet, Viking Link and our planned Nautilus and LionLink projects will act as the cornerstone for North Sea nations to make the most of up to 300GW of offshore wind generation, delivering low-cost renewable energy to consumers with the least impact on coastal communities.”
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “At 475 miles long, Viking Link is the world’s longest land and subsea interconnector. This incredible feat of engineering will help us achieve net zero while strengthening our shared energy security.
“The record-breaking connection will power up to 2.5 million UK homes with clean energy from a trusted ally, while saving consumers £500 million on their energy bills.”
In 2023 National Grid announced joint plans with TenneT for a new 1.8GW interconnector between the UK and The Netherlands, called LionLink. The link would not only join the two countries but also connect to offshore wind generation.
LionLink would be the second link between the two countries and is expected to be operational in the early 2030s. National Grid is also working with Elia on a second new link called Nautilus, which is in the planning phase with the potential to link the UK with Belgium and offshore wind generation.
Image courtesy of National Grid Ringrose Law expands with three new office openings
Ringrose Law has expanded its regional footprint with the opening of three new offices in Grimsby, Peterborough, and Nottingham this week. This significant expansion brings the firm’s presence in the region from five to eight offices, marking a notable milestone in the firm’s growth journey.
The new offices in Grimsby, Peterborough, and Nottingham are a testament to the firm’s ongoing success and its commitment to broadening its reach to serve more individuals and businesses. This expansion has been fuelled by the ongoing growth of the firm’s departments and teams.
With these new openings, Ringrose Law aims to replicate its successful model of providing a comprehensive range of personal and commercial legal services, catering to both individuals and businesses. The firm is dedicated to maintaining the high standards of service and expertise that have been the cornerstone of its operations across the region.
Ryan Clarke, Managing Director of Ringrose Law, expressed his enthusiasm about this phase of growth: “This expansion marks a significant period of growth for Ringrose Law. We are incredibly excited about the opportunities that these new locations will offer us. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of everyone at the firm. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients with the same level of excellence and professionalism that has defined our practice.”
For over 100 years, Ringrose Law has been providing a wide range of legal services to individuals and businesses in Lincolnshire. Its expertise encompasses family law, divorce, childcare, personal injury, medical negligence, residential and commercial property transactions, wills & probate, discrimination law, dispute resolution, criminal law, and commercial law.
Ringrose Law’s expansion into Grimsby, Peterborough, and Nottingham underscores its commitment to providing accessible, quality legal services and support to more communities. The firm is excited to embark on this new chapter and to continue making a positive impact in the lives of those they serve.
For more information about Ringrose Law and its services, please visit www.ringroselaw.co.uk or contact the firm’s offices directly.
Image: Grimsby office – (L-R) Esme Hobbs – Associate Solicitor, Yasmin Akhtar – Associate Solicitor, Costa Kyriacou – Partner & Head of Children Department, Ryan Clarke – Managing Director
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance launch ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ fundraiser
In partnership with The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is inviting people across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to put the kettle on and ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ by hosting a coffee morning or a tea party in support of the charity’s life-saving work.
‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ is a great opportunity to get friends, family, neighbours, colleagues or even the wider community together to catch up, have a brew, eat delicious cakes and biscuits, and make a life-saving difference to people in their communities.
Susie, Founder of The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, said: “We are proud to be supporting the work of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. After visiting their HQ, we can’t help but feel in awe of the helicopter, doctors, paramedics, and wider team.
“It’s so amazing to collaborate with them on their ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ campaign and we are delighted to be gifting free coffee bags to everyone who signs up to make a ‘cuppa’ and host an event. We are overjoyed to be making a donation from our LNAA website bundles too, so here’s to making time for a cuppa.”
In the first three months of the year, LNAA has already been tasked to 404 missions and as summer approaches the team are gearing up to what they expect will be their busiest summer ever. But for the crew to bring the hospital to the patient, they need to raise over £13 million in 2024. Hosting a ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ event and raising money means the doctors and paramedics can continue to be by the side of the most critically ill and injured patient’s when they are most in need.
LNAA’s Community Fundraising Manager, Helen Watkinson, said: “We are excited to be working with The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company in this brand-new venture.
“Their support will allow us to continue to keep our helicopter in the skies and our critical care cars on the road, providing emergency treatment to people living and working in Lincs & Notts. This partnership with The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company will help us raise vital funds and further grow the awareness of our work.”
Whatever you choose to do, you will be helping LNAA be by the side of patients, day and night, seven-days-a-week. For more information and to receive a free ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ fundraising pack visit ambucopter.org.uk/make-time-for-a-cuppa.
104-year-old aircrew survivor helps launch unique RAF heritage centre
A new heritage Centre at RAF Ingham has been opened to commemorate the contributions of the Polish Air Force Bomber Squadrons during World War II in a ceremony attended by a 104-year-old aircrew survivor.
The groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind globally, pays homage to the gallant men and women who served alongside the RAF, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and sacrifice.
RAF Ingham (later known as RAF Cammeringham) was a pivotal Royal Air Force station from 1942 and 1944, hosting RAF Bomber Command operations and subsequently serving as a training hub for both the RAF and Polish Air Force units until 1946.
Among the attendees was 104-year-old Mieczyslaw Frackiewicz (John Franklin), who’d been a wireless operator with 304 Squadron. He attended the ceremony with his daughter and cut the ribbon to make the centre’s official opening. He said: “I would like to officially thank all those behind today’s event and the volunteers who have worked for this – I am so grateful for everything they have done.”
Behind the endeavour lies 14 years’ effort to transform an old farm storage building, once the wartime Airmen’s Mess, into a beacon of remembrance and education.
Chairman of RAF Ingham Heritage Centre, Geoff Burton, said: “The official opening was an incredible success, with guests from Poland and descendants from around the UK being able to be present and to experience our wonderful exhibition.
“You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day; the weather was great, and we managed to have the flypast by a Spitfire from BBMF.
“So many of descendants became very emotional on seeing photographs of their loved-ones or were simply enveloped in the atmosphere. So many met old friends or made new ones, and found that unbeknown to them, they had bonds and connections where their parents/grandparents had flown or worked together on the Polish Squadrons.
“Praise and thanks must go to our incredible team of volunteers, who have worked tirelessly over many years, to make this project a reality.
“We have created this Centre to ensure the memories and sacrifices of these young men, many of whom gave their lives, to ensure we have the freedoms, we so take for granted these days.”
The Heritage Centre stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the courage and resilience, ensuring the valiant deeds of the past resonate with future generations. As visitors step through its doors they embark on a journey through history, honouring the spirit of those who served with unwavering devotion.
The ceremony included speeches from invited guests, including the Lord Lieutenant, Polish Consulate in Manchester, Michał Mazurek. Wreaths were placed at the centre’s war memorial by guests including representatives of the Polish armed forces and members of the RAF.
The centre, on the B1398 near Filligham will be open as follows:
- Thursdays, 10am to 3pm
- Saturdays, 10am to 3pm
- Sundays, 10am to 3pm
First South & East Lincolnshire Cultural Conference taking place this May
A new South & East Lincolnshire Cultural Conference will take place for the first time this May, giving arts and heritage organisations and practitioners across the region the chance to network, share ideas and get involved in the launch of a new creative programme of work.
Organised by South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, comprising of Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council, the free conference will be held at Blackfriars Theatre in Boston, on Wednesday 22 May from 9.30am to 4pm.
Open to venues, organisations, practitioners and groups involved with heritage, culture and arts in South and East Lincolnshire, the main focus of the day will be to inspire links between arts and heritage projects for place transformation and connect people across the partnership area, as well as share plans on activity for the year ahead including information from the Partnership’s Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation project.
Attendees will hear about the next steps and events planned for this programme, which has almost £2million of Arts Council support to deliver art and culture opportunities centred on the rich heritage and stories from each district. The project focuses on The Guildhall in Boston, Ayscoughfee Hall in South Holland and the Colonnade in Sutton on Sea becoming Creative Hub sites for the area.
As well as the project announcements and networking opportunities, the conference will provide an opportunity for people to share their ideas and ambitions for local culture and heritage, and will include breakout sessions throughout the day to share information on topics including funding routes for creative work and how to use digital media to share and amplify stories. A marketplace will also be open for any organisations or individuals wishing to have a stand to promote their work.
The cultural conference is due to become an annual event taking place across South and East Lincolnshire, as part of the Partnership’s commitment to help connect the cultural and heritage sectors across the area and create a strong and lasting community to support each other and share best practice.
In a joint statement Councillor Graham Marsh, deputy leader at East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Sarah Sharpe, portfolio holder for culture at Boston Borough Council, and Councillor Elizabeth Sneath, portfolio holder for conservation and heritage at South Holland District Council said: “We are delighted to be able to launch this new cultural conference, that will provide a long-needed opportunity for our brilliant arts and heritage practitioners and organisations working here in South and East Lincolnshire to network with each other, share ideas and work collaboratively on delivering this fantastic project.
“The Arts Council’s support is making it possible for us to hold events like this, and launch an incredible programme of events and activities over the coming years that will celebrate the heritage and creative talent that our local communities are built upon, and have a lasting, meaningful impact on the opportunities available for residents and visitors alike.”
To book your place, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-south-east-lincolnshire-cultural-conference-2024-tickets-884953328227?aff=oddtdtcreator
Image credit: Google maps
Hospital team to complete 12-hour sponsored CPR-a-thon
A team of hospital clinicians are getting ready to take part in a 12-hour sponsored CPR-a-thon.
Staff at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, are fundraising to purchase a machine that performs mechanical chest compressions if a person has a cardiac arrest and CPR is prolonged.
The hospital has a LUCAS CPR Chest Compression System machine that is kept within the Emergency Department to help to resuscitate patients, however on occasions this has not been available for use in other parts of the hospital.
Members of the Critical Care Outreach Team, the Hospital at Night Team, the Resuscitation Team and the Intensive Care Unit Team are getting ready to perform CPR for 12 hours non-stop on a mannequin in a bid to raise funds to purchase a second LUCAS machine.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care, Hayley Head, said: “We can perform CPR for 90 minutes, whilst reversing the cause of a cardiac arrest. This can be tremendously demanding, both mentally and physically, for everyone involved.
“LUCAS is able to maintain the rhythm and pressure needed to give patients the best possible chance of survival and also the best chance of recovery. With the support of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity we are hoping to raise the funds to purchase a second machine.
“This will then be used as needed across many of the hospital wards.”
Last year the Critical Care Outreach team were called to 37 cardiac arrests across the hospital, excluding A&E and the Intensive Care Unit.
Hayley added: “We have a team of 15 colleagues who will take it in turns to perform CPR for two hours at a time in teams of four. This will continue to complete a total of 12 hours non-stop CPR.
“We will be holding the CPR-a-thon in an area of the Outpatients Department waiting room. Performing CPR is probably the most physically demanding part of our jobs as healthcare professionals, so please feel free to pop down and show your support to the team.”
The fundraising event will be taking place from 8am to 8pm on Friday 26 April.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Fundraiser, Gary Burr, added: “Our teams do an amazing job caring for our patients. We are so proud to support this great team and event that will not only raise awareness, but also funds to help our colleagues to continue saving lives. A second LUCAS machine will provide enhanced care for our patients.”
Anyone wanting to support the team can make a donation via the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity website: https://www.ulhcharity.org.uk/appeal/cpr-a-thon.
Image courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
