Two heritage and culturally significant attractions are set to expand their offer and attract even more visitors to the Lincolnshire Wolds following the approval of planning consent.
On 3rd October, on determining two separate applications with unanimous decisions, East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee granted planning permission and listed building consent for Alford Manor House and the grounds of Alford Windmill.
The consent marks a huge milestone for both projects which, once complete, will see new uses for each attraction, generating greater footfall into the town all year round, supporting the local economy, and safeguarding these heritage assets for future generations.
Both sites, along with Spilsby Sessions House, are part of the Lincolnshire Wolds: Culture and Heritage Programme. The ambitious regeneration scheme is benefitting from £8 million funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to regenerate the assets to secure their future.
The permission for Alford Manor House will realise a new permanent, flexible event space which will see the temporary marquee removed that has been in place since 2006. The new function room will allow the Manor House to provide event space for up to 100 people. The consent also includes minor works to the car park and construction of a canopy to store large pieces of machinery for the Rural Life Museum and workshop.
The consent for the Alford Windmill site includes a new visitor centre incorporating a café and shop, refurbishment of the Miller’s Cottage into a two-bed holiday accommodation, refurbishment of the Sail Store as an educational space, the pigsty to be converted into a children’s play area, refurbishment of the former shop to display Millwright tools, and landscaping throughout the site.
The approvals follow a period of public consultation, including local residents, Alford Town Council, Historic England, Natural England and Heritage Lincolnshire. The Council will continue to work alongside Lincolnshire County Council at Alford Windmill as the project develops.
Cllr Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at East Lindsey District Council, said: “I am delighted the Council’s planning committee has supported these ambitious plans which will help secure the future for these attractions.
“The Council is working collaboratively with Alford Manor House and Alford Windmill Trust as well as other partners to bring new uses and extend the visitor offer which is important for the local economy and to grow tourism opportunities in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
“These attractions hold so much historic value for local people as well as wider East Lindsey. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to the milestone of planning approval today and I look forward to seeing these projects being delivered further over the coming months.”
Cllr Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns at East Lindsey District Council, said: “Both Alford Manor House and Alford windmill are part of the fabric that makes Alford the historic market town that it is. I am therefore, delighted that these schemes have been given the go ahead to bring these plans to life.
“The plans offer great potential to really impact the tourism economy of the Lincolnshire Wolds and bring visitors and holidaymakers to Alford and the surrounding Wolds.
“These plans are hugely exciting and the benefits they bring will be far reaching for businesses and organisations in Alford and surrounding areas.”
William Silby from STEM Architects said: “We are pleased to see the planning officers and local councillors support the projects with a unanimous decision to approve both applications.
“It has been a pleasure working with the rest of the design team, ELDC and the trustees at both Alford Manor House and Windmill. We are looking forward to continuing with the next stages of both projects. In particular, it is fantastic that these schemes will support the ongoing viability of the Windmill and Manor House and protect these beautiful heritage assets for generations to come.”
A range of pre-construction work will now continue on both sites ready for work to start next year. A planning application for Spilsby Sessions House is due to be submitted later this year.
Newark and Sherwood District Council is once again offering free weekend and Bank Holiday parking at all its managed pay and display car parks to support businesses and attract visitors during this festive season.
Before the weekend free parking was introduced last year, it was only Sundays where visitors could park for free. Now, free parking will be provided on Saturdays as well as Sundays starting from Sunday 24 November, coinciding with the Christmas Lights Switch On, running through to Sunday 29 December. It will also include free parking for Bank Holidays for Wednesday 25 December and Thursday 26 December.
The aim is that the free parking will motivate residents to do their Christmas shopping locally this year, in an effort to support Newark’s amazing independent retailers and town centre.
Those using the car park on one of the free days will still need to pick up a ticket when they park. Simply go to the parking machine to print your ticket for how long you plan to stay, and you won’t be charged if you park on the weekend during the offer period.
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We want to continue this offer for residents and to take the extra step and further support residents and businesses this Christmas.
“I urge all residents and visitors to Newark to seize this wonderful opportunity, explore our remarkable independent shops, and participate in the exciting events happening this year.”
Councillor Claire Penny, Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s great we can launch this initiative yet again and it’s one that we hope will be a huge benefit for many living and working in the town.
“Newark is a fantastic spot for shopping, grabbing a bite to eat, or family outings, so it’s wonderful that we can attract more visitors with this great offer.”
Darren Bourke, of Masdings Designer Clothes shop on Middle Gate in Newark, said: “This is fantastic news for shoppers and local businesses alike. It will help to support town centre and High Street businesses to attract more customers in the lead up to Christmas which is a vital time of year for traders.
“The convenience of parking and visiting the town centre on weekends along with free parking tickets will help bring more visitors and shoppers into our amazing town to experience all that is on offer at this time of year.”
A number of festive events are set to take place in Newark this year, including A Likely Story – Historical Escapes on Friday 1 November, Newark’s Christmas Lights Switch On taking place on Sunday 24 November, this year’s Palace Theatre pantomime Aladdin between Friday 6 December and Tuesday 31 December and the Christmas Market and Traditions coinciding with the Steampunk Christmas Market on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December.
These are just some of the engaging events hosted in the vibrant town of Newark, which hosts activities all year-round and boasts a wide array of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Enjoy exploring the town centre and the amazing events on offer under a magical Christmas canopy of lights, making this an excellent destination for a family outing which offers lots of great options to extend your visit, support local shops and enjoy a bite to eat or hot drink.
The District Council managed car parks offering free parking include those located on Appleton Gate, London Road, The Wharf, Riverside, Riverside Arena and Castle House. The offer does not apply to resident and contract car parks.
North Lincolnshire has picked up a clutch of prestigious Britain in Bloom East Midlands awards from the Royal Horticultural Society.
The newly-developed Somervell Community/Inclusive Allotments in Scunthorpe scooped a major award – the RHS Judges Award for Community Focus.
Elsham Parish Nature Reserve, which used to be an old quarry, also received a Judge’s Award. The site is owned by Elsham Parish Council.
The judges said the site had been transformed into a wonderful wildflower and wildlife facility which, as it develops, would be fully enjoyed by villagers and visitors alike.
Central Park in Scunthorpe won an award for Excellence in Horticulture and Standards.
Recent work installing planters on local streets, including Britannia Corner, won a Bronze award.
Cllr David Rose, Cabinet member for Environment said: “This is a marvellous achievement, and a welcome reward for the workforce who have put so much effort in over the past 12 months. North Lincolnshire’s green spaces are going from strength to strength.
“It is particularly noteworthy that unused and neglected areas have been taken and transformed them into spaces from which the whole community can benefit.”
The Palace Theatre Newark is getting ready to welcome a huge West End production to its stage this month. Bill Kenwright Ltd.’s national tour of Blood Brothers will be visiting their stage from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 October and there are just a handful of tickets left for each performance.
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
This production will see Vivienne Carlyle returning to the iconic role of Mrs. Johnstone, having received nightly standing ovations for her powerful and poignant performance in the West End production. Sean Jones and Joe Sleight return to the production as twins Mickey and Eddie, with Gemma Brodrick reprising the role of Linda.
The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True, one of many reasons it is affectionately known as “the standing ovation musical.”
To ensure that as many local people can enjoy this fantastic show as possible, a British Sign Language interpreter will be in attendance on Wednesday 23 October, enabling people who are D/deaf or hard of hearing to experience this amazing story to the fullest.
Councillor Rowan Cozens, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “It’s a wonderful step forward for Newark that such a well-renowned national tour has chosen to stop here.
“The fact that tickets have been selling so well is brilliant too and really proves that there is an appetite for shows like this in the local area. I know that the Palace team are already in talks with a number of other similar productions so keep an eye out and make sure you don’t miss this chance to such an acclaimed West End show in your local theatre.”
The remaining tickets can be booked online at www.palacenewark.com, or by calling 01636 655755 or visiting the Theatre from Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
As part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) challenged nifty knitters to create the largest yarn bomb ever seen to spread the word about its vital life-saving work. And what a sight it was!
Since May 2024, over 350 of helicopters have been spotted flying and landing in shops, parks, churches, offices, pubs and many other locations in communities across Lincs & Notts. They have been spotted as far away as The Wirral in Cheshire, on the ferry from Southampton to Isle of Wight and even in the cockpit of the Red Arrows!
LNAA’s Volunteer Manager, Kate Kerrigan said: “We have been blown away by the support, not only from the many of people who created these masterpieces but also from the hundreds of supporters who contacted us telling where they had been spotted.
“It has been truly fantastic to witness so many helicopters landing in so many different locations and every helicopter has played a part in raising awareness of the life-saving work that our pilots, doctors and paramedics do every day of the year.
“As a charity, LNAA receives no direct government funding for its operations and relies on the support of every community in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to raise the £13million needed to operate 24 hours of the day, every day of the year.”
The helicopters will now disappear from their locations to be stored in their hangars and receive some tender loving care before they take to the skies once again during the charity’s Hello Yellow Week birthday celebrations in May 2025.
Businesses in the East Lindsey area of Lincolnshire are being alerted to a new scam being attempted in the area, where fraudsters posing as Council officials claim alcohol licences are about to expire.
A spokesman for the Licensing Officers of South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership said: “The scam involves individuals falsely claiming that your Alcohol Premises Licence is running out or expiring. This is incorrect, as alcohol licences do not expire or run out. Any annual licence fees due will be handled by the Council through the usual annual invoice/reminder process.
“These fraudsters can seem very convincing, sometimes having accurate information such as the fee amount or the names of real Council staff. If you’re ever in doubt about someone claiming to be from the Council, contact your local council directly to verify their identity.
“We are committed to protecting our local businesses from fraudulent activities. Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to ensure the safety and integrity of our community.”
If you believe you’ve been targeted by this scam or have any relevant information, please report the incident to the Licensing Team at your local council, Lincolnshire Police on 101, and Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
National Grid is being pressured by Lincolnshire County Council’s legal department to share the data used to justify its claim that 400 pylons running through Lincolnshire are cheaper than seabed cabling.
The council believes the costing for the Grid’s proposal for pylons and substations across 80 miles of productive farmland between Grimsby and Walpole are fundamentally flawed.
Officers have already requested official costings twice and have been ignored by the Grid, which has cited commercial sensitivities.
The council, which is supportive of the need to route offshore renewables to UK communities to achieve net zero, believes the Grid’s ‘value for money’ claims may be flawed on the following grounds:
They are deliberately using out of date costings to justify pylons over seabed cabling.
They are ignoring indirect costs like the compensation they would need to pay to land and property owners, the extra infrastructure needed to allow for the maintenance of the network and the compensation that councils would claim for loss of tourism.
They have not considered other alternatives like investing in existing pylon networks to boost their capacity.
The council has formally requested a response from the Grid on these points by 29 October, ahead of official consultations planned for spring next year.
Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We have been quite clear about the impact these proposals would have on the county if they came to fruition, and we deserve to have the full information to ensure that National Grid has truly considered all the options before decimating Lincolnshire’s countryside.
“The county council is experienced with dealing with commercially sensitive information, so hiding behind this excuse simply does not make sense.
“We believe their data is flawed, but if the Grid stands by the claim that pylons are a cheaper, they need to simply tell us how they have reached that conclusion – show us the figures.
“Upgrades to national energy infrastructure need to be done properly, and we’re seeking assurances for our residents that every option is being properly considered.”
Late November heralds the return of the annual Christmas Craft, Food & Gift Fair at Sandringham (Friday, Saturday & Sunday November 15th – 17th 10am – 5pm).
There is a fabulous show in store for you with all the old favourites with new attractions and features.
One of the leading attractions at this year’s event is the return of live ice carving, after an absence of 5 years. Some of the popular carvings were Santa’s Sleigh and the Post Box for delivery of letters to Santa’s Workshop.
Set in the centre of the event is the new Christmas Village, where log cabins will house selected Craftsmen, Food producers, vendors and attractions. The central food court within this village area will have numerous Meet & Greet street entertainers, music and great street food to create a lively Christmastime environment.
Moving further around the fair there is the Craft Village, a major display area with well over 100 Craftsmen, Artists & Designers displaying, demonstrating and selling a multitude of hand-crafted items and gifts.
Keep walking and you arrive at Food Glorious Food; synonymous to Christmas is Food & Drink, such an important aspect of everyone’s Christmas enjoyment.
Equally the Food Halls provide a fabulous array of food and drink from both regional and national producers which are bound to make your taste buds tingle, then pick up some menu ideas from chefs on stage to complete your enjoyment.
Still talking about food, why not try some of the great Street Food on offer whilst relaxing to live music in the adjacent food court; a little chance to rest your feet.
Lots more gifts and ideas abound in the various gift marquees and arcades that interlink the main show areas, many of the exhibitors being drawn from Country Fair exhibitors, so if you missed them earlier in the year, you have a second chance to catch your favourite stands.
Enjoy all the fun of the fair at the Sandringham Christmas Craft, Food & Gift Fair.
It’s Christmas time and they say Christmas it for children, and there is plenty of entertainment with Santa’s Magic Show, various puppet shows, Jesters, mischievous Elves
and much more. Travel on the Christmas Land Train or decorate a biscuit in the children’s activity tent, then just join in all the fun of the fair.
Enjoy the nice lively atmosphere that is created around the event with a wide range of live music including Jazz, Blues, Christmas songs by the Swingtime Sweethearts, Brass Bands,
One Man Bands and of course a Singing Santa.
So eat, drink and be merry at the Sandringham Christmas Craft, Food & Gift Fair.
Adults £14, Over 65’s £13, Children £5.
After the success of 2023’s sell-out tour, the UK’s number one vocal harmony group The Overtones are bringing back the Good Times Christmas Tour for 2024. The multi-platinum selling group will spread the Christmas spirit across the UK with their highly anticipated annual tour, visiting Scunthorpe’s Baths Hall on Sunday 10th November.
The tour promises to be a non-stop party from start to finish, featuring original fan favourites such as Gambling Man through to classic songs by artists such as The Drifters, Stevie Wonder, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. In addition to these crowd-pleasing hits, audiences can expect festive favourites and some never seen before, brand-new tracks.
In 2024, the prolific music group will also be joined by Tom Ball. Returning as a guest for The Overtones on their Good Times Christmas Tour, Tom gained global acclaim as a finalist & runner up on Britain’s Got Talent ’22 and America’s Got Talent All Stars in 2023. Now, with over 85 million views online, sell out shows and recently scoring a No5 in the Official UK Independent Albums Chart, Tom returns with his spine-tingling performances as The Overtones Good Times Christmas Tour Special Guest.
The band said: “We’re beyond excited to be heading back out on our ‘Good Times’ tour! After the incredible reaction we had after last year’s tour we thought we’d keep to the ‘Good Times’ theme. It’s all about the feel-good vibes and happy times with family and friends! We’re equally as thrilled to be releasing ‘Ladies Night’ to coincide with the tour announcement! It’s a timeless classic and one we’re so happy to be sending out to our fans and new followers alike.”
The four-piece group, consisting of Mark Franks, Darren Everest, Jay James and Mike Crawshaw, is best known for exquisite vocals, incredible harmonies, perfectly timed dance moves and distinctive style.
Blending their perfect mix of originality and classic nostalgia, The Overtones feel-good, show-stopping performances have led to over a decade of success in which the in-demand group has achieved five Top 10 albums, 11 sell-out UK tours with their latest album ‘10’ also becoming the group’s very first UK Number 1 on the Official UK Independent Album Chart.
Three clinicians who swapped the wards at Lincoln County Hospital for providing lifesaving training to hospital staff in Sri Lanka, have now returned.
Consultant Cardiologist David O’Brien, Consultant Cardiologist Dinal Taleyratne and Lead Resuscitation Practitioner Monique Loveday provided training around advanced life support and cardiac arrest management.
Dr Taleyratne was born in Sri Lanka and has always wanted to return and give something back to the country of his birth. He spent a year planning the trip which took place last month.
He said: “We supported doctors by instructing on a local European Resuscitation Council Advanced Life Support course, in addition to training staff on a bespoke ‘train-the-trainer’ course which we helped to develop and shared our knowledge on specific areas of emergency cardiac care.
“The trip was a great success and we received an extremely warm welcome. Everyone was so accommodating and grateful that we had given up our time to travel and share our expertise with them.”
The trip was funded by the trio outside of NHS budgets. They spent 14 hours a day training and then gave up some of their evenings to lecture at events.
During their trip, they managed to train 24 doctors and nurses from across the country on the train the trainer course who are now able to go back to their local hospitals and train their colleagues. They also trained an additional 48 doctors and nurses in advanced life support techniques.
The team from Lincolnshire also delivered a lecture to the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka, attended by a representative from the Ministry of Health, focusing on the management of out of hospital cardiac arrest and resuscitation education in NHS hospitals.
The three colleagues say they learned so much from the trip. Monique said: “All three of us have a real passion around training, education and sharing knowledge and expertise. We were all inspired by the value that is placed on education and training in the country.
“I learned so much from the team in Sri Lanka, they have a unique support system that starts prior to any training which really helped to make sure the candidates were well prepared. We hit a few stumbling blocks along the way, but the team worked beautifully together to ensure the course was a success. The candidates and faculty alike were so grateful for the opportunity to attend in person.”
Professor O’Brien is professor of medical education at the School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, and is also Vice-Dean at the Lincoln Medical School. He has worked as an interventional cardiologist in United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust for 16 years where he was former Clinical Director for Cardiology, opening the Lincolnshire Heart Centre at the Trust in 2013. He has been teaching Advanced Life Support (ALS) for 25 years and has been an ALS course medical director for 15 years.
He said: “It was a real privilege to be able to share our knowledge and also learn from others. It was great to make so many connections and we have since heard that one of the doctors we worked with on the course has now applied for a job in our Trust.”
It was the first time Professor O’Brien and Monique had visited Sri Lanka, so once all of the training was completed all three colleagues spent some time exploring the country at their own expense. They went on safari, met elephants, visited temples, observed the stunning landscapes and said they got to experience true local hospitality from the people of Sri Lanka.
Professor O’Brien added: “I truly believe that education is a powerful tool and a wonderful gift and one which we often take for granted. It was great to have the opportunity to offer the benefit of our combined years of experience to another country that currently just does not have the same infrastructure and financial resource to support teaching and training of these vital skills, as we are fortunate enough to have in the UK.
“I feel so privileged to have been able work on this project as part of such a fantastic team, and also with such dedicated colleagues in Sri Lanka. It has reaffirmed to me that wherever you are in the world, clinicians all have the same common goal; that of improving outcomes for their patients.”
Image: The clinicians providing training in Sri Lanka. Credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
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