County leaders sign proposed Lincolnshire devolution deal

Tess Egginton
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County leaders sign proposed Lincolnshire devolution deal

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Levelling Up Jacob Young met the three Greater Lincolnshire Council Leaders today (27 November 2023) as they united to sign the greater county’s proposed devolution deal.

Mr Young joined North East Lincolnshire Council Leader Cllr Philip Jackson, along with Cllr Martin Hill OBE from Lincolnshire County Council and Cllr Rob Waltham MBE from North Lincolnshire for the ceremonial event held at Scunthorpe’s 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: “It’s fantastic to be here in Lincolnshire today announcing our devolution deal for the Greater Lincolnshire area.

“It comes alongside extra funding, more powers and a new directly elected mayor for the Lincolnshire area. I know it’s going to have a dramatic impact across the whole of the Lincolnshire County.”

Cllr Martin Hill said: “This is a deal which will be fantastic for Greater Lincolnshire, from the Humber down to the Wash.

“It gives us a lot of extra spending power over the next 30 years, £24 million a year for the next 30 years, and some additional money straight away that we can spend on our priority areas.

“But importantly it will give us extra powers as well to make sure that we can direct that spending in areas that we know local people need it, around infrastructure, around transport, around housing, flood defence and various other areas where we know we’ve got need in the county.

“We know it’s going to be great for us in determining the future direction of Greater Lincolnshire.”

Image courtesy of Lincolnshire County Council

Does your community need more trees? Government plans cash injection for planting

Stuart Pearcey
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Does your community need more trees? Government plans cash injection for planting
A competition for a new national forest will be launched by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay this week as part of an ambitious package to help people across the country access nature. Communities will be able to put their local areas forward to become a new national forest, with the winning location receiving up to £10 million to help fund the project. This will build on the success of the National Forest in the Midlands, which spans 200 square miles across parts of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Applicants will be assessed based on how the new forest would transform the local area, create habitats for wildlife open up access to the countryside, and help the country meet net zero targets. The competition will launch this year with successful bids to be announced by autumn 2024. This is the latest step in the Government’s plans to help people access nature, plant more trees and support nature recovery. Since joining the department earlier this month the Environment Secretary has set out his ambition to help more people get into the outdoors, enjoy the British countryside and preserve our vital natural heritage. The Environment Secretary will be attending COP28 next month, where he will set out further action to achieve our ambitious targets to restore the natural world. Setting out the plans Steve Barclay said:”Public access to nature is so vital, which is why we pledged in our Environmental Improvement Plan that everyone should have access to green space or water within a 15-minute walk from their home – such as woodlands, wetlands, parks or rivers. This new forest for the nation will help make that happen.

“As a former Health Secretary, I have seen the benefits that nature has for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Bringing these spaces closer to where people live and work is a key priority for me personally.”

Double your donation to Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance in The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023

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Double your donation to Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance in The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise £70,000 in just one week! The charity needs to raise £35,000 in online donations to secure a match pot that will double the amount raised to make £70,000. All donations will support LNAA’s life-saving work, 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year. From 28 November to 5 December all donations will be doubled. Money raised could go towards helping children like three-year-old George who was hit by a car. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance was dispatched to where George lay unconscious, landing close to the scene so the crew were able to be by the toddler’s side. As George began to wake up Dr Alan Horan and Senior Paramedic Erica Ley could see he was showing signs of distress and administered advanced pain relief.   As George was so young, he needed to be taken to hospital as quickly as possible. Distraught mum Laura travelled on board the helicopter to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre and could only watch as the crew continued to monitor George and keep him comfortable. They arrived at hospital in minutes and George was transferred quickly to the paediatric team so they could continue his care. Mum, Laura said: “The compassion and kindness they showed as they kept my son settled on that flight to hospital will stay with me forever.” Fortunately, George made a full recovery.  Interim Giving Manager at LNAA, Michelle Hill said: “It’s patients like George who need the care only our crew can provide – and quickly. He was potentially one of four patients that day, our daily mission average, to which the crew take the equivalent of an Emergency Department. “Whether at the beachside, on the roadside or in the countryside, crews respond to emergencies of the most serious kind, providing medical interventions that can mean the difference between life and death. “Patients like George get the best care possible only because of the support we receive from people across Lincs & Notts and beyond.” Donations to the Christmas Challenge will be generously matched by campaign pledgers (Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Countryside Appeal (NAACA), Lincolnshire Air Ambulance County Appeal (LAACA) and Community Champion The Reed Foundation), meaning your donation will have twice the impact!  But in order to access the £35,000 in the matching pot, LNAA needs to raise £35,000 in online donations. LNAA hopes everyone will give generously this year to help reach the target and to help keep the iconic helicopter flying and critical care cars operational 24/7. How can you get involved? Visit https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/BigGive and make a donation from 12pm (midday) on #GivingTuesday (Tuesday, 28th November). The campaign will close at 12pm on Tuesday, 5th December.

Devolution deal for Lincolnshire could be worth £24m a year for decades

Stuart Pearcey
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Devolution deal for Lincolnshire could be worth £24m a year for decades
A proposal for devolution involving Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire, and North Lincolnshire Councils will be formally signed next week. It would mean £24m of government funding coming to the area every year for 30 years, along with additional responsibilities. The overall aims are to promote economic growth, put councils in charge of money that was previously spent from Westminster and take more decisions locally. The proposal includes establishing a Combined County Authority to oversee these powers, that would include a Mayor elected by Lincolnshire residents. Existing councils would remain, and would continue providing the services they do now. Until a Mayoral Combined County Authority was established in 2025, it’s proposed that Greater Lincolnshire would also receive £28.4m for capital investment in priority projects, next year. Cllr Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This day is of huge significance. It represents a future of collaboration, bringing with it local and direct control of the things that really matter to the 1.1million residents of Greater Lincolnshire who this proposed new deal is for. “Devolution means we can invest funding into priority projects like improving transport links and regenerating areas that need it. We’d also have a stronger voice with government about investment and services for our area. “The proposal includes transferring the government’s adult education budget to us locally so we can ensure courses are available for the skills our residents want, helping them get skilled, high wage jobs.” Following a formal signing of the proposal next week, Council meetings will take place in the three lead authority areas to vote on the proposal. There would then be a public consultation across the whole of Greater Lincolnshire before a deal was finally agreed.  

Scunthorpe town centre set for £16m Government cash boost

Tess Egginton
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Scunthorpe town centre set for £16m Government cash boost
Scunthorpe will benefit from almost £16m Government cash to create more jobs and new town centre homes. This funding – from the third round of the Levelling-Up Fund – will be used to reshape the High Street and create a new future. Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Levelling-Up is alive and well in Scunthorpe – the cash will make a huge difference to Scunthorpe and residents in communities who visit the town centre. “The plans we have are ambitious and the Government has backed them. We know there are challenges for high streets up and down the country and with this cash we can start to move these plans forward by creating new jobs and building new homes. “We are determined to improve Scunthorpe and we will back businesses to invest so we can create a new future together.” Holly Mumby-Croft, MP for Scunthorpe, and vice-chair of the Towns Fund Board, said: “It is great that the Government has given us this extra cash to revitalise Scunthorpe town centre and create more new jobs and more new homes. “There is a way to go still but with the backing of Government we will be able to create a new future for generations to come.”

Christmas Market kicks off festive season at Grimsby Top Town Market

Tess Egginton
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Christmas Market kicks off festive season at Grimsby Top Town Market
On Saturday 25 November, Grimsby Top Town Market will host local independent traders for its Christmas Market in aid of St Andrew’s Hospice. The Christmas Market will open from 10am-4pm with small businesses selling one-of-a-kind gifts for even the trickiest to buy for, including bespoke jewellery and beads, natural bath treats and Neal’s Yard remedies, decorations for the home, gifts for book lovers, beautiful handmade backpacks, hand painted ornaments and so much more! As always, shoppers are sure to find porcelain and china figurines, bath bombs and wax melts, books, electricals and clothing from the market’s regular traders as well as being able to wrap their gifts and tie them with a bow and settle down for a festive bite to eat and hot drink as a reward for their successes. Shoppers can extend their day of festive fun by visiting The Great Grimsby Christmas Festival which promises an outdoor Christmas market featuring seasonal crafts and gifts alongside hot food stalls in St James Square against the backdrop of Grimsby Minster. There will also be live music and entertainment on the event stage plus walkabout street entertainers and performance acts for the whole family to enjoy throughout the day from 12 noon, finishing with a parade and the Community Christmas Tree Lighting at approximately 5pm. Vikki Wilson, Property Services Manager at Equans who operate Grimsby Top Town Market, said: “We are really looking forward to partnering with St Andrew’s Hospice again to host this special Christmas Market. “Welcoming these small businesses to the market with their beautiful and far-ranging products will make sure that there really is something for everyone. It’s a perfect way to support local businesses and give back to the community as well as directing funds to the hospice. “We are delighted that the Great Grimsby Christmas Festival is taking place on the same day – together these events promise something special for shoppers in North East Lincolnshire to kick off the festive season.”

Lincolnshire garden centre hits the market after 40 years of family ownership

Tess Egginton
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Lincolnshire garden centre hits the market after 40 years of family ownership
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, and joint agent, Clark Weightman, have been instructed to market Millstone Garden Centre in Grimsby. The garden centre was originally established in 1989 by current owners, Tom and Joanna Rutherford. Set in the foothills of the Lincolnshire Wolds and across a 4.2-acre site within walking distance of Waltham village, the traditional, family-run garden centre specialises in offering a comprehensive range of high-quality plants, hard & soft landscaping products and a wide range of other garden-related products. The site features a retail shop, large glasshouse, conservatory and extensive standing beds. Also included in the sale is a detached, five-bedroom house with a double garage, gardens front and rear, pond, greenhouse and vegetable plot. After almost four decades of ownership, Tom and Joanna have decided to sell as they are hoping to retire. They said: “After 50+ years landscaping and 40 years nurturing our family-run garden centre, retiring feels like we are ready to bring our story closer to a conclusion. “We really do cherish the countless memories, blooming friendships, and the joy of cultivating a thriving and passionate gardening community. It’s our time to bid farewell and send our heartfelt thanks to all our wonderful staff and our beloved customers. We’re very much looking forward to writing the next, peaceful chapter in our book!” Andrew Birnie, director at Christie & Co who is handling the sale, said: “This is a great business, ideal for a family to purchase and live on site. Alternatively, as the house is accessible through its own driveway, a new owner may wish to sell it separately without too much alteration at a later date. “The site is well-managed, has ample space for development, and enjoys a loyal customer base which is continually expanding. With the hundreds of houses being built nearby, there is plenty of scope to grow the business and capitalise on the increasing demand.”

Grantham gets ready for festive fun

Tess Egginton
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Grantham gets ready for festive fun
Full details have been revealed ahead of Grantham’s Christmas Fayre and Festive Lights Switch-On on Sunday 3rd December 2023. A craft market and charity stalls will run between 11am and 5pm, boosted by live music and entertainment and the chance to enjoy festive food and drink. Alongside yuletide activities, a children’s fair and vintage rides will immerse the whole family into the Christmas spirit. The free event takes place in the Market Place and Westgate, with the lights switch on ceremony due to illuminate the town at 4.30pm. SK Community Awards Lifetime Community Champion of 2023, Karen Thompson will switch the lights on. Karen has been supporting disabled children and adults since setting up Kesteven Rideability in 1988. Hundreds of disabled people have benefited from physical therapy, reduced stress, improved well-being, confidence and self-esteem through contact with horses and ponies. Cllr Paul Stokes, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure said: “We are delighted to be hosting such an exciting line-up for this year’s festivities. “We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to enjoy some of the fantastic live-entertainment and stock up on some Christmas goodies from the many local businesses that Grantham has to offer. “We will also showcase our enhanced and improved Christmas light display for 2023, following significant investment by the Council. We hope that everyone will welcome the seasonal illuminations and decorations.” Grantham School of Dancing will open the event at 11am, followed by performances from the cast of the Guildhall Arts Centre 2023 pantomime, Aladdin. Charlie Church, Rock Choir, Nataly Arbon, Hayes Theatre, Relight My Choir and Ultra 90s will provide entertainment throughout the day, as well as winter princesses and elf antics performances. An adventure awaits with wooden versions of Santa’s reindeer, created by Simon Kieffer and volunteers from Outwood CIC, hidden in participating venues across Grantham’s town centre as part of the Rogue Reindeer Trail. The reindeer have been decorated by nine local primary schools. The Rogue Reindeer trail is free to take part in with trail sheets and clues available from the HelloSK stall in the marketplace between 11am and 4pm. For those who manage to find all nine reindeer, head back to the stall for a chance at winning a family ticket to the Guildhall Arts Centre and Polka Dot Pantomimes’ production of Aladdin. Cllr Stokes said: “It has been our pleasure to bring together local schools as they showcase their creativity in decorating the reindeer.” Grantham’s regular businesses will trade alongside the glittering specialist stalls for stocking fillers and gifts, as well as traditional wintry refreshment. The craft market and charity stalls will offer cards, crocheted creations, jewellery, clothing, candles, infused gin & festive treats – and much more. The magic of Christmas is set to come alive with a range of children’s activities on offer, including free face painting, balloon modelling and festive crafts – including the chance to Decorate A Gonk with Outwood CIC. Visit the enchanting Santa’s Grotto and Snow Globe for an immersive winter experience. The magic doesn’t stop there as Santa and his little helpers will fly through the Market Place on his sleigh at 3.15pm, provided by Grantham Lions Club CIO. For those eager to unleash their creativity, All Day Play presents an exciting lineup of creative craft workshops aboard their brand-new play bus. From festive art to sensory activities and even the ever-popular Christmas slime making, there’s no shortage of merry moments for the little ones. Grantham Rotary & Grantham Twinning Association will also be in attendance on the day, raising funds for Inner Wheel & Rotary Charities. Their stall will be supported by performances from Dunne & Rusted and members of the Premier Cru. The event is being supported by Lincolnshire Fire Aid, who will be bringing their collection of vintage fire engines to explore. Road closures will be in place from 6am to 9pm on Sunday 3rd December. The following roads will be affected:
  • Market Place
  • Conduit Lane (part of – junction of Greyfriars)
  • Narrow Westgate
  • Wide Westgate
  • Guildhall Street (part of – junction of Greenwood’s Row)
  • Welby Street
Other festive fun on Sunday 3rd December includes the Garden Yard’s Christmas Market between 10am and 3pm, St Wulfram’s Church Christmas Tree Festival and Guildhall Arts Centre pantomime at 1pm & 5pm.

A Grand Design for Kestrel Aluminium Systems

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A Grand Design for Kestrel Aluminium Systems
A complete window and door glazing solution from Kestrel Aluminium Systems was specified as part of a carbon-neutral, sustainable woodland house that featured on a recent episode of Grand Designs. · Architect: Kelly & MacPherson Architects, Caistor · Project Manager: HFM Ltd, Grimsby · Window Fabricator & Installer: Fabrique Specialist Glazing Systems Ltd, Grimsby · Location: Scawby Brook, Brigg, Lincolnshire. Tucked away on the outskirts of Brigg, Lincolnshire is Scawby Brook, a carbon neutral, sustainable house created to blend into the surrounding woodland setting. Designed by local architect Kate Kelly, the dwelling’s connection with nature was a key focus of the client’s brief. The house was specified with many windows and doors to let light flood into the property, reflecting the natural environment and providing the best possible views of the rural landscape. Local project manager Mike Hill was employed to deliver the project and, as part of his contract, to source materials and labour from the local area. Mike specified windows and doors from Kestrel Aluminium Systems to provide a complete glazing solution for the modern building. He chose Kestrel’s products based on previous experience working with the company, and the knowledge that the systems would offer the best solution in terms of the quality and budget demanded by the client. Andrew Cross, Marketing Manager of Kestrel Aluminium Systems, says: “We are delighted that our aluminium window and door systems were specified for use at Scawby Brook. The distinctive house sits high up in the treeline to maximise the rural views, and our windows were the perfect complement to the building’s modern, streamlined aesthetic.” The windows used in the property are a mixture of fixed or opening vents, with multi-point espagnolette locking, PAS24-compliant security to keep the occupants safe and secure. Used in conjunction with low U-value double-glazed units that achieve a low U-Value of 1.2W/m2K, they ensure the building is safe, secure and energy efficient. Part of the house is elevated on stilts so that it sits within the trees, with a bridge separating the living and sleeping quarters. This has been glazed with 2,200mm high units inset with top-hung casement windows to maximise light and give stunning views of the surrounding woodland. The adjacent rooms have matching tall, fixed corner windows that are an impressive feature of the design and let light flood into the building from every direction. Installed on the first floor are double French doors which provide access to a private roof terrace. Fully compatible with the full suite of Kestrel products, all units use the same profiles and hardware to ensure a seamless, common aesthetic throughout the building. All windows were powder coated in Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) at Kestrel’s powder coating facility in Birmingham. The finish provides an enhanced colour fastness and coating stability, removing any risk that the profiles will peel, flake or fade. This ensures that the windows will retain an as-installed appearance for years to come. The installation scores highly in terms of sustainability – another key requirement from the client and part of the reason why Kestrel’s aluminium windows were chosen. Aluminium windows are highly recyclable and have a low environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle. From production to installation and eventual recycling, the window and door systems have a much smaller carbon footprint than alternative material options. The manufacture and installation of the systems were undertaken by Fabrique Specialist Glazing Systems of Grimsby. Bespoke projects of this type are challenging as there are always time pressures to make sure the build can continue to progress at the expected rate to avoid setbacks and costly time penalties. This project was no different, and Fabrique had a tight deadline to keep to as the installation of the glazing was what would make the house watertight and ready for the second-fix stage of the project to commence. Fabrique offered bespoke solutions for the project, drawing on its experience in the fenestration industry to add details to the building that created a high-end finish. Steve Hilldrith, Managing Director of Fabrique, explains: “It is always wonderful working on such projects and seeing a prestigious build realised. I’m pleased we were able to offer our design expertise to help finish the project to the desired specification.” Kestrel’s aluminium window and door systems have been supporting UK installers and fabricators for more than 30 years. The company prides itself on offering excellent customer service and exceptional quality, reliable products to allow projects to be completed on time and to a high standard. For more information on Kestrel’s systems, visit www.kestrelaluminium.co.uk or call 0121 333 3575.

Lincolnshire men prosecuted for supplying illegal security

Tess Egginton
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Lincolnshire men prosecuted for supplying illegal security
Two men have been prosecuted at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court for supplying illegal security. Trevor Frater, who on 25 September 2023 had pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty on the day of the trial for supplying unlicensed security and acting as a manager while being unlicensed himself. This is the third time that Trevor Frater from Lincoln has been prosecuted by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for supplying and working as illegal security. As a result, Frater has been committed to Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing. The SIA will pursue him for confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The other man, Richard Coleman from Grimsby, pleaded guilty to working illegally on Monday 6 November 2023 having changed his earlier not guilty plea which he made in July. He was sentenced to a £270 fine, ordered to pay £3,158.40 prosecution costs and a £108 victim surcharge. Trevor Frater operated under the name of Elite Door Staff and he deployed Richard Coleman to a Louth bar between April and November 2022. Coleman was formerly an SIA licence holder, but his licence had expired on 13 January 2019. Previously at Boston Magistrates’ Court Coleman stated that he had not worked as a door supervisor. On 22 November 2022 a routine licensing inspection was carried out by the SIA’s regional investigation team with officers from Lincolnshire Police of the bars, pubs and venues in Louth. One of the venues visited deployed Elite Door Staff and had done so since September 2021. Frater’s business was dissolved on 1 February 2022. Following the inspection, the SIA began a criminal investigation. In February 2023 investigators requested both Frater and Coleman to submit further information to them and to join SIA investigators for an interview under caution. Frater did not respond with the required information, and neither of them met with SIA criminal investigators. Jenny Hart, one of the SIA’s criminal investigations managers, said: “The purpose of the SIA licence is to protect the public. We await the outcome of Trevor Frater’s sentencing. He has now pleaded guilty to his offences. He is a prolific offender who recruited Coleman to perform an unlicensed role. Coleman now has a criminal record for his actions.”
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