EDAN Lincs launches 24th birthday fundraiser

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EDAN Lincs is celebrating 24 years of delivering domestic abuse services in Lincolnshire. Last year EDAN Lincs’ outreach team received 4,962 referrals and helped a further 7,759 people who contacted the helpline or online chat for one off advice regarding domestic abuse. EDAN Lincs’ refuges have supported 62 families, 90 adults, and 122 children/young people. Your support is very important to EDAN Lincs as your donations help support victims of domestic abuse in Lincolnshire. With a new birthday fundraiser EDAN Lincs are looking for 2,400 people to donate £1 each or 480 people to donate £5 or 240 people to donate £10 or whatever you can afford! If you are celebrating a birthday soon, why not organise a birthday fundraiser, coffee morning, take part in a running, biking or another activity and fundraise? It’s easy to create a fundraiser or link to this Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/edanlincs24thbirthday

Council chooses Lincolnshire Showground to host planning meeting about Gibson’s dog’s grave

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Concerns for the safety of Guy Gibson’s dog’s grave at Scampton have led the RAF to ask West Lindsey District Council planners for permission to move it.

The council’s Planning Committee will consider the application for listed building consent for the removal of Guy Gibson’s dog’s grave from RAF Scampton at an extraordinary planning committee meeting at the Epic Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground at 6.30pm on Wednesday, 5 July.

Listed building consent is necessary for the removal of Guy Gibson’s dog’s grave, which the RAF has asked for as a result of concerns regarding its safety of the grave in light of Home Office plans to house asylum seekers on the site.

The application for listed building consent will be determined in an extraordinary meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee. This is now scheduled to take place on Wednesday 5 July, at 6.30pm at the Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground.

The choice of a larger venue close to the site itself, is said to ensure anyone with an interest in this application has an opportunity to attend the public meeting. The meeting will be recorded, and the webcasting posted on the Council’s website after the meeting.

Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting should register before 5pm on Monday 3 July at this link: https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/council-democracy/decision-making-council-meetings/public-participation-questions-committee-meetings

Firms sought to give massive makeover to iconic Scunthorpe building

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Bids are being sought by specialist builders and carpenters to carry out a dramatic makeover to St John’s Church – one of Scunthorpe’s most visible and historic buildings. A tender has been launched for the works which will make the whole of the Grade II listed building accessible and connected to the recently-developed gardens in Church Square. Using Government cash from the Towns Fund, the work will create an even larger space for events and activities and allow for the development of Discover, a science and technology centre for children and families that will add to the award-wining arts and heritage exhibitions. Cllr Rob Waltham of North Lincolnshire Council said: “We’re moving forward at pace to appoint a specialist contractor to complete the work which will bring a new lease of life to this amazing historic building. “The plans are incredible, bringing this amazing asset back into full use and allows us to extend the attractions to include a new science and technology centre, Discover@20-21. “Using this Government cash we have always intended to make a real difference and attract more people to the town centre.” The works sought through the tender include extensive repairs and rebuilding of the roofs as well as the descaling, cleaning and repointing of stonework – with many of the church’s original features restored or renewed using historical evidence. Internally, timber repairs include the eaves, architectural cornices, trusses and timber angels – as well as a full clean and repointing plus a new building management system to ensure the building is protected for years to come. Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities, Scunthorpe, Ashby and Bottesford, said: “Making our town centres more attractive and inviting places to be is a key priority for us – we are backing our communities to grow and flourish. “This extensive and specialist piece of work has been a long time in the making but will make a huge difference. It is really exciting to get to this point and I am looking forward to seeing the church restored to its former glory.” It is part of the more than £80m of Government funding which has backed the council’s plans for creating a new future in North Lincolnshire. This includes cash for roads, new motorway junctions, enabling people to develop their skills and supporting communities. This cash from the Towns Fund, Future High Streets, Levelling-Up, UK Shared comes alongside £75m for a new port development, £5m for the A15 enhancements, investment in the new university campus, tens of millions for education and the £200m plus paid to support jobs throughout the pandemic.

Result is crystal clear: Glass trader named as Trader of the Year

Amanda Brown has once again been named as East Lindsey’s favourite Market Trader of the Year in a public vote. She has a Glass Design stall on the Wednesday market in Louth and Thursday market in Horncastle, whatever the weather, and has been a market trader since 2015. She said: “Wow I cannot believe I have won again. I would like to thank everyone again who voted for me. It’s amazing to have such positive support and that makes it all worthwhile. There is a lot of hard work which goes into what I do but I love it and enjoy standing on the markets.” Cllr Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns presented Amanda with her prizes which includes a free advertisement barrier cover, award, and eight markets rent-free. Cllr Grist said: “This competition is a fantastic way for us to celebrate our markets and for local people to get the opportunity to vote for their favourite trader.” “Traders all offer a wide variety of quality products with affordable prices and I think this is vital to our community.”

Local chefs take to the stage at the Lincolnshire Show

With the Lincolnshire Show’s opening yesterday (21 June), the Lincolnshire Kitchen showcase returned, allowing visitors to take a seat and watch top chefs cook with local produce and create tasty treats.

Featuring the sweet smells of local delicacies and live cookery demonstrations, Lincolnshire’s Steph Dexter and Rachel Green were amongst the chefs cooking up a storm on Wednesday.

Experienced chef Steph recently took over the running of The Swallow Inn in the village of Swallow near Grimsby. The traditional style pub prides itself on delivering excellent service, food and drinks in comfortable surroundings. Steph began her journey at the young age of 16 by working at The White Hart Hotel in Lincoln, whilst also studying catering at college. She then went on to work at Doubletree By The Hilton where she continued her training. After leaving The Hilton Steph landed the head chef job at the Horse And Groom where she was able to pick up even more experience, then went on to run the Cross Keys Inn in Grasby before starting a new adventure with The Swallow Inn. You can call into The Swallow Inn to experience head chef Steph’s delectable food yourself, ranging from a lighter lunch menu to traditional pub classics and Al La Carte Specials. With amazing views spreading right across the Wolds, the pub makes for the perfect rest stop for walkers, runners, bikers and dog walkers, for some much needed refreshments.

Land deal makes way for major mixed-use scheme in North Lincolnshire

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Plans for a major sustainable mixed-use scheme in North Lincolnshire, which is set to include thousands of new homes alongside potential for high-value employment, community and leisure space, have moved a step closer with the acquisition of a major development site. Regeneration and multi-sector property development specialist Hargreaves Land has exchanged contracts with site receivers Watling Real Estate for the conditional purchase of a 550-acre plot of land at the Lincolnshire Lakes site in Gunness, near Scunthorpe. There, over 1,150 new homes will be created over the next 15 years as part of a major master-developer partnership that will also see potential for a new Advanced Manufacturing Park to be brought forwards on part of the site, offering commercial occupiers easy access to the nearby M181 motorway. A 65-acre section of the site has been given a strategic allocation in North Lincolnshire’s emerging Local Plan to accommodate potential for the development of a carbon-neutral Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which could in the future provide new commercial space to accommodate a range of emerging businesses, alongside research and development institutions, including those within the clean energy sector. New construction jobs will be created when enabling infrastructure work by Hargreaves gets underway, followed by thousands more in the future as new businesses are created at Lincolnshire Lakes and existing employers relocate to the site to support their own growth and expansion plans. Lincolnshire Lakes is expected to be one of the largest residential development schemes in the region and forms part of a wider strategic regeneration project set to transform the overall area, which will also include delivery of a new primary school, district centre and extensive areas of public open space. The scheme will be masterplanned by Hargreaves to accord with the placemaking principles of a sustainable twenty-minute neighbourhood, with new opportunities created for active travel alongside large areas of blue infrastructure and biodiversity corridors. Hargreaves Land is committed to bringing forward the wholescale regeneration of the site, moving ahead in a deal that will see it working closely with North Lincolnshire Council to secure outline planning consent within two years on its initial phases of development. David Travis, development director at Hargreaves Land, said the deal marks another step forward in creating much needed quality new homes and amenities for the area. “Lincolnshire Lakes is a very exciting investment for Hargreaves Land, reflecting our track record and continued focus in successfully delivering large-scale placemaking schemes throughout the UK. “This includes our involvement in the on-going development of Unity, another large-scale mixed-use development in South Yorkshire which has a lot of similar constraints, where we are working with joint venture partner Waystone Developments to ensure project success. “This deal represents a significant milestone for our overall growth as a business, and we look forward to delivering sustainable development on site over the next few years.” Zoe Shearman, development surveyor at Hargreaves Land, added: “This moment represents the culmination of several months of hard work by our internal team and external consultants, and we now look forwards to progressing planning and marketing workstreams on the site as proactively as possible, with a view to facilitating our first phases of serviced residential plot disposals to housebuilders in the near future.” Andrew Foster, joint Managing Director at Watling Real Estate, said: “On behalf of Watling Real Estate, we are delighted to enter into a 15-year joint venture with Hargreaves Land to bring forward this development for the benefit of all stakeholders. “This is a very innovative solution to progress development for a challenged site, and Watling Real Estate thanks Hargreaves Land and North Lincolnshire Council for their support, assistance and flexibility in working within the parameters of a Receivership.” Freeths law firm acted on behalf of Hargreaves Land for the acquisition while Pinsent Mason represented the receivers.

John O’Groats re-union was pure fluke for Lincolnshire Freemasons

When Skegness Freemason Bob Craig and his wife Mel cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats the last person they expected to meet at journey’s end was someone they hadn’t seen since New Year’s Day. Bob and Mel had been to the Skegness Masonic centre to see off fellow Freemason Chris Jones as he embarked on his round-Britain walk to raise £100,000 for the Freemasons’ charity the MCF. Said Chris: “Bob and Mel started their bike ride earlier this month. It was pure fluke that I was at John O’Groats when they arrived, but I was chuffed to bits to see them!”
Bob, a member of St Clement Lodge, said: “We set our itinerary in August last year, so it’s amazing that we hit John O’Groats within 12 hours of Chris without planning it. Mel and I pedalled for 112 hours, did 1,065 miles, and climbed 53,041 feet.”
Bob and Chris met during lockdown, when Freemasons were supplying hand sanitiser where it was needed. Distribution was by motorcycling members of the Free Wheelers Lodge, including Chris, who delivered to Bob as the Skegness contact. Chris said: “We stayed in touch, and Bob introduced me to another couple who’d lived in Skegness but retired to Stirling in Scotland, and were kind enough to put me up for a couple of nights during the walk. “Bob, Mel, and I had a few coffees before they had to cycle another 17 miles down to Wick to start their journey home…”

Grimsby’s state-of-the art OnSide Youth Zone moves a step closer

Grimsby’s young people have moved one step closer to walking through the doors of their state-of-the art OnSide Youth Zone, as the construction phase of Horizon Youth Zone has begun. A celebration took place at the former West Haven Maltings and Migar House buildings, which is where the new Youth Zone will be. Horizon Youth Zone is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council which is contributing towards the Youth Zone as part of the Greater Grimsby Town Deal. Other key supporters include Historic England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Ørsted, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, The Youth Investment Fund and private donors. Expected to open in early 2025, the state-of-the-art youth centre will provide thousands of young people with opportunities to engage in activities and access support from skilled youth workers, helping them to develop their skills and reach their full potential. It will be open to young people aged between eight and 19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs), seven days a week, for just 50p a visit. Members will have access to an indoor climbing wall, four court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, enterprise and employability suite. Chair of the Board Jason Stockwood said: “As Chair of Horizon and someone who grew up in Grimsby, I am so proud we have reached this incredible milestone. This is a momentous day for all involved in Horizon Youth Zone.Our Trustees, generous funders, Young People’s Development Group and  supporters are collectively making our dream for Grimsby’s young people a reality. “It has been a long time coming, but we are delighted with the progress being made and it won’t be long before Grimsby’s young people can see the heritage buildings transformed into a space which they truly deserve. I want to thank everyone who has led us to this moment, it wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support.” Horizon Youth Zone is an independent charity with a private-sector led board, and once opened will be part of the OnSide Network of 14 Youth Zones nationwide, supporting over 50,000 young people annually. Recruitment for the dedicated staff and volunteers needed to run the Youth Zone has already begun, with the Youth Zone in the process of recruiting its Chief Executive.

Port of Grimsby throws its doors open to the public

A celebration of the Port of Grimsby, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), will be the highlight when it participates in the national Heritage Open Day 2023 on Saturday 16 September. The open day within the historic area referred to as the Kasbah, whose name was first used in reference to The Square by those who worked there, will focus on family friendly activities, talks, and tours of this conservation area. Simon Bird, Regional Director of the Humber ports said: “Grimsby and the Kasbah is a unique place with so much history and heritage with great progress being made in bringing it back to life. There’s an opportunity to find out how it’s being used by the film and TV sector as a location and ABP’s ambitions to pursue this to make the place viable. It’s our catalyst in bringing a new identity to the location. We’re supporting the many businesses on the port who are all passionate and keen to showcase what they do during this exciting time. Visitors can learn about the past but also about the future and the work being undertaken to preserve its identity.” Cllr Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure, and Culture said: “The port was, and is, so key to the lives of so many families in our borough. Working with partners, we’re helping others to make use of the buildings on the port once again. I’d like to take the time to congratulate all those that have taken on buildings, bringing new life to the docks.” Stella Jackson, Heritage Action Zone project manager at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “This event will be a great opportunity to come and see all of the fantastic project work that’s taken place over the last few months, and to find out more about the area’s heritage as well as its ongoing regeneration too.” This year the port is celebrating the theme of ‘creativity unwrapped’ and its architecture, port design, food, crafts, artwork, music, and culture associated with maritime, ports and shipping. There will be demonstrations of net braiding and people can meet Phyllis the braider who will bring this skill to life. Guided tours will focus on the history of the port, its historic buildings, and their future, while there will also be an opportunity to explore one of the port’s many smokehouses (Alfred Enderby Smokehouse) and a chance to visit some of the buildings undergoing renovation through the PSiCA grant scheme. Volunteer archivist Garry Crosland, a former employee of ABP, will give a talk on railways and how they helped shape the port, and Emma Lingard, ABP’s Communications Manager and avid historian will give a talk on the architecture of the site. The open day will take place on Saturday 16 September 2023 from 10am to 4pm on the Port of Grimsby. Admission is free.

Green light for sustainable sculpture

Plans for a striking sculpture have been given the go ahead by Lincoln City Council. The installation is set to be a unique attraction for locals and visitors alike and is testament to the strong collaboration of a number of organisations including local school children who worked together to create something eye-catching and meaningful. The sculpture was commissioned by Lincoln BIG with funding from Lincoln Creates and has been designed by local visual artist, Nadya Monfrinoli for Stokes Tea & Coffee’s Lawn site in the city. Nadya explained: “The design concept was inspired by the coffee plant, that in nature grows as a tree, rather than a shrub as seen on plantations. I wanted to build a pavilion, a space which is between sculpture and shelter, somewhere that is inviting, where people would congregate. “The brief from Stokes included a stipulation that we should try to use as much waste material from the Lawn based coffee roastery as possible. I chose to build the pavilion using the pallets that the coffee beans arrive on. Each piece of wood has been carefully liberated from its pallet. Over 200 pieces were printed with coffee inspired designs by children at Westgate Primary school, which is very close to the Lawn site where the Pavilion will sit.”
The sculpture
Nick Peel is the fourth generation of the Stokes family to run the legendary 121-year-old firm. He said: “We are delighted to see this project move forward. The pandemic caused delays but it’s exciting to think that in just a few short weeks, it will be in place for so many people to enjoy. “The coffee tree nourishes, nature is to be treasured and respected, along with minimising waste to help better protect our environment. These values are built into our business alongside the arts and creative community collaborations, which are also in our DNA. Life can crush your soul at times, but art always reminds you that you have one. Installations make you pause, reflect and be curious. I really hope the children enjoy seeing their creative work come together as one piece.” Emma Olivier-Townrow, Business Development Manager at Stokes, added: “This project is a great example of how Lincoln Big has supported artists, businesses and local communities to work together, donating resources to support culture and promoting Lincoln City as a vibrant place to live, work or visit. It’s been fantastic to do this especially working with the primary school children who visited our roastery and barista training academy to better understand the journey of coffee from bean to cup.” Lee Roberts, Head of Operations at Lincoln BIG, said: “We’re delighted Lincoln Creates has brought this brilliant project to life and allowed Stokes to collaborate with Nadya to create a sculpture that strongly reflects their company’s values. We’re looking forward to seeing the striking artwork come to life and offer a distinctive attraction for locals and visitors to see.” The different elements of the pavilion have been ready for some time now, but it will be assembled off site to minimise installation time at the Lawn, before being delivered in sections. The sculpture will be sited on the grounds at the Lawn on Union Road in Lincoln.   Main image shows: Stokes HQ at the Historic Lawn Building