The Red Arrows staged a fly-past over RAF Waddington to celebrate the opening of a new £3.6m facility to help prepare the aircraft for the team’s exciting displays. Eight of the iconic Hawk T1A jets flew over their home station to mark the opening of the new Dye Bay facility, built on behalf of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) by VIVO Defence Services and Henry Brothers Construction. The facility, which is next to RAF Waddington’s runway, formed part of a pre-planned aerobatic training flight at their home base on Thursday. The 260m2 facility is the first of its type built to enable an aerial display team to carry out the critical maintenance required on the aircraft’s dye pods. It features a purpose-built plant to create the famous red, white and blue plumes, cleaning and washdown areas, a maintenance workspace, storage for spare parts and office space. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, formed in 1964, recently completed its move from RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, to nearby RAF Waddington. Wing Commander Adam Collins, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “Colourful smoke trails are a vibrant feature of displays and flypasts by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. The trails have an important flight safety role too. They allow the pilots to judge wind speed and direction and to locate other aircraft when different sections of the team’s formation are several miles apart. “Responsible for replenishing the Red Arrows’ smoke pods are two dedicated dye teams. Working to tight timescales, these engineers ensure the red, white and blue trails look the part when Red 1 calls ‘Smoke on, go!’. “The official opening of the new dye bay marks a step change in the quality of infrastructure and working environment for dye team personnel. The new bespoke facility allows the critical processes of smoke-pod maintenance and servicing to take place in better surroundings, increasing efficiency and safety. “The project is a real team achievement between VIVO, Anderson Green, Henry Brothers, DIO and RAF Waddington Works Services and ensures that the Red Arrows’ signature red, white and blue trails will delight and inspire global audiences for years to come.” Adell Vass, DIO Regional Delivery Central Region Head, added: “The Red Arrows are such a beloved element of our national identity that to provide support to their 2023 Display Season, on their relocation to RAF Waddington is to be celebrated. “This team came together, to successfully deliver both a temporary and permanent complex Dye Bay solution, at short notice and to tight timescales. The collaboration and engagement by all parties was key to this success and I am very proud of their achievements.” VIVO Defence Services acted as the Principal Designer and Contractor on the £3.6m project and Henry Brothers were contracted to carry out the construction. Other members of the team included lead designers Anderson Green, whose team included CBP Architects, civil and structural engineer Hexa and Fuels consultants BPS Ltd. Jerry Moloney, VIVO Managing Director, said: “Everybody loves the Red Arrows and to be able to watch them carry out a fly-past over something your organisation has been involved in is just incredible. “We at VIVO led the construction of this building with a number of partners and the Red Arrows are so pleased with what has been produced they wanted to mark the occasion in this way, that is amazing and well done to everyone involved.” Ian Taylor, Henry Brothers Construction Managing Director, added: “The Red Arrows are famous around the world, and we were very excited to have been appointed to build a maintenance facility at the new home of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. The dye pod facility is absolutely crucial in helping the display team to create the famous plumes that we see in the air when the Red Arrows perform their amazing aerobatics. “Henry Brothers has strong links with RAF Waddington, having worked on several different schemes at the base, and we are proud to have supported the Red Arrows in the team’s next chapter, helping them to continue to provide the breath-taking air displays that they are renowned for.” As the new home of the Red Arrows, RAF Waddington will receive further investment under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) AIR Programme. The project will deliver refurbishment and modernisation of over 8000 m2 of existing infrastructure including space for aircraft parking and runway access as well as maintenance capabilities, a refurbished aircraft hangar and office space. Plans also include new, modern Single Living Accommodation (SLA) to replace the existing life-expired accommodation as part of a wider scheme to deliver replacement SLA across a number of projects. The uplift in facilities will see about 150 additional personnel operating from the site once complete.

The seven south & east Lincolnshire Councils Partnership will work with the County Council to drive a new ‘Clean Air Lincolnshire’ project in collaboration with Lincolnshire County Council. As part of the project, given a grant by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a public awareness campaign will be developed including a new website which will launch in autumn, providing useful information on the causes and impacts of air pollution and the actionable steps to take to improve local air quality and reduce health conditions related to air pollution. Public Health England says poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK and can cause spikes in cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, particularly in the young or vulnerable. Clean Air Lincolnshire will raise awareness of these issues and encourage action for cleaner air across the county. Efforts will be made to involve local schools across the county in the project, using data from air quality monitoring equipment to educate students, staff and parents on the effects of local air pollution and how to reduce exposure and emissions. Using the data and local knowledge, school students will run campaigns during the 2023/24 school year, promoting active travel and anti-idling, to improve air quality around their schools. The councils are hailing this as a fantastic new initiative aimed at improving air quality  through both education and action to ‘drive better health for residents’. Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “It is great news we have received funding from DEFRA to improve air quality in Lincolnshire. We are committed to tackling air pollution across the county and recognise cleaner air will be crucial to improve the health of our residents and young people”.

The Duke of Gloucester has visited Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter and Cornhill Market, walking around Sincil Street and Exchange Square, discussing the history and restoration of the historic buildings and admiring the refurbished features of shops on the street.

West Lindsey District Council has installed solar panels on six of its waste collection vehicles to power essential vehicle functions such as compacting and lifting mechanisms.. The move is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions, and puts West Lindsey at the forefront of eco-friendly practices in waste management. The installation of solar panels on waste collection vehicles aims to significantly reduce the fleet’s fuel consumption, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and lower operational costs, all whilst continuing to provide award-winning and reliable waste collection services to the district’s residents. Councillor Stephen Bunney, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Member Group and a key advocate for the project, said: “By harnessing the power of solar energy, we are taking a significant step towards a more sustainable future for our district. This initiative demonstrates our dedication to finding innovative solutions to combat climate change and reduce our carbon footprint.” By supplementing the traditional fuel source with solar power, the council anticipates each vehicle will use 600 less litres of diesel a year, slicing six tonnes from its carbon emissions. This initiative is the result of a collaborative effort between the council and technology company Vision Techniques, which provide 360-degree cameras to ensure safe operation of WLDC lorries. The project was financed through a dedicated fund for climate initiatives with a focus on creating a positive impact on the community and the environment. It aims to pay back within four years from fuel savings and reduced maintenance costs, thereby funding future projects.