Bikers take to streets in ‘ride of thanks’
Hundreds of motorcyclists from across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire are planning to take to the streets this September for their charity ride out.
The ‘Ride to Save Lives’ annual 62 mile biking event will take place on 3rd September and will be raising much needed funds for the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA), Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service (LEBBS) and Nottinghamshire Blood Bikes (NBB).
Roland Johns, volunteer and joint organiser of the event, said: “This will be the 6th year of our charity ride-out and we hope to make it the biggest yet.
“Starting at Newark Showground, the circular route will make its way through some of the most glorious countryside and villages in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, where we will be greeted by supporters from each village we pass through.
“Supporters there will be holding their own events, whilst cheering and waving to the riders along the way – creating a real buzz of excitement.
“We all know that bikers and their families recognise the important role the LNAA plays for many different communities. The enhanced level of pre-hospital critical care delivered to patients at the scene, gives people with the most severe injuries and medical conditions the very best chance of survival when minutes matter.
“And with the crews on call 24 hours of the day, 365 days of the year, the highly skilled doctors, paramedics and pilots are there to help people across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, involved in life-threatening incidents every single day.
“Together with rising costs, especially in the cost of fuel, the amount needed to keep this life-saving charity operational for this year is now set to top £10 million with each mission costing on average £4,000.”
The Emergency Blood Bikes Service (LEBBS and NBB) are run solely by volunteers and like the LNAA rely solely on public donations. They provide an out-of-hours courier service transporting essential medical items such as blood, pathology & microbiology specimens, medical notes, pharmaceutical products and donor breast milk between hospitals and healthcare facilities. This service is offered completely free of charge. They also take life saving blood and plasma to the LNAA every evening of the year.
Roland continued: “Whatever make and model of bike you ride, it is amazing to see so many bikers from all communities coming together for a fantastic event. It truly is a wonderful sight.”
Erica Ley, Senior Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS) Paramedic at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, added: “We have helped so many bikers, and with that, they often recognise the importance of our service. Whilst we hope that they never have to see the inside of our helicopter, we want to be there for them if they do need us.
“As a Charity, we rely on the support from the public to do this, and our annual Ride to Save Lives is just one of the ways in which bikers can help to raise vital awareness and funds to keep our helicopter in the sky.”
It costs just £10 entry per bike and the Lincs & Notts Ride of Thanks is asking for a donation for any pillion riders. To sign up for the event, visit the Lincs & Notts Ride of Thanks Eventbrite page, or contact Roland on 07943 812324, or by email: roland5020@outlook.com
Businesses invited to shape policy for Lincolnshire’s tourism economy
Businesses across Lincolnshire are being invited to feed into to new strategic plan for tourism and the visitor economy in the county.
Six workshops are to take tak place across the county in an initiative organised by Destination Lincolnshire, with support from councils across Greater Lincolnshire.
This new plan will be the roadmap that underpins these collective ambitions and will feed in to Visit England and national Government.
There will also be an option to join a virtual workshop online for anyone who is unable to attend, plus an online survey that everyone can fill out to give people the opportunity to be included.
More information and booking links can be found at this link – Destination Lincolnshire.
Chips with everything: County Council plans 137 miles of new road surface dressing
Lincolnshire County Council is spending £5m to put a stone chip surface dressing at 150 sites around the county.
It will involve putting down 21,000 tonnes of material to extend the life of the roads in a more resilient way than pothole patching. 12,000 tonnes of that original 21 will be recycled aggregate (basically, sweepings from the road that come from last season’s works).
Cllr Richard Davies, Executive member for Highways is a big fan of surface dressing and says that the summer season will be a boost for many: “It’s one of the real hero methods for getting more life out of a road with a fraction of the cost of having to dig a road up and rebuild it.
“And because of that, we get to get more return for our money. It’s so cost-effective that surface dressing in this way comes in at just a tenth of what we’d spend on alternative materials to achieve a similar result. It’s much quicker to lay, too.”
About 30,000 square metres can be laid in a day, and the works don’t always require a full road closure.
“With the programme we have planned across the summer we will get roads that are better to drive on, last longer and are easier to maintain. The surface dressing will also help to prevent or reduce pothole proliferation and it seals the surface from water, which makes the whole road more resilient.
“So surface dressing is a vitally important part of how we are working on maintaining the roads network in as financially efficient a way as possible. And the scale on which we are putting these measures into practice over the summer will give Lincolnshire a big boost ahead of next winter.”
Red Arrows celebrate opening of new Dye Bay facility with fly-past
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.
Stamford marathon runner changed gear to take on cycling challenge for life-saving charity
Stamford runner, Barry had already completed five London marathons when in 2002 he was knocked down by a car whilst running and suffered life threatening injuries, including an open book fracture of the pelvis.
He remembers being in severe pain waiting for emergency services to arrive, but the sound of the rotor blades of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance as it approached reassured him that help was on its way and that he would be ok.
The crew stabilised Barry at the scene and quickly flew him to Grantham & District Hospital where he had an operation to stabilise his pelvis before being transferred to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for further treatment.
It was two years later before Barry was able to return to running, although not as extreme as prior to the accident. He said: “It is a miracle, bearing in mind the severity of my injuries, but thanks to the skill of the doctors and paramedics on call that day and the speed in which the helicopter got me to hospital, I have had a full recovery from my injuries.”
As a way of showing his gratitude for the treatment he received, Barry now represents LNAA as a volunteer, giving talks about its life-saving work, and collecting donations throughout the counties.
On 29 June, Barry swapped his trainers for pedal power, and he took on the hundred mile Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast cycle challenge together with ten other dedicated cycling friends and to date have raised over £4,500.
He sums up: “I am proud to help LNAA in some small way, I knew nothing about them before my accident and so to make people aware of the life-saving work of the air ambulance gives me great satisfaction.”
Donations can still be given to Barry on his crowd-funding page: justgiving.com/fundraising/b-daff
Find out how you can fundraise for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance at their website.
A fun-filled summer to remember at Burghley
From Burghley’s most popular annual events to brand new experiences, there is so much to discover at Burghley this summer.
Family fun in the new adventure play, concerts and live music in the park, world-class sport, fabulous food events and five-star wild dining experiences makes Burghley the place to be.
Summer holiday adventures await at Hide & Secrets Adventure Play
School is almost out for summer! Plan the ultimate day out at Hide & Secrets. Open daily, 10am – 5pm. Book your adventure in advance to avoid disappointment and save on the day.
Come again and again!
Make this summer one to remember for the whole family. Buy an Annual Pass now for unlimited visits throughout the school holidays.
More summer holiday activities…
Beastly Boring Tours – Monday 7th – Saturday 19th August (excl. Fri & Sun)
Costumed guides provide a tour like no other for little ones. Discover fun, historic facts about Burghley’s 500 year history.
Summer Holiday Crafts – Monday to Friday, between 7th – 18th August
Get creative in Burghley’s wonderful pop-up craft sessions. Join in free of charge with one of Burghley’s Day Tickets.
A celebration of live music all summer long…
Burghley have a brilliant series of live music events this summer. From huge parkland concerts and a new 90s disco, to open-air opera and internationally renowned choir taking place in the magical settings of Burghley House & Gardens.
Mark these dates in your diary.
Battle Proms Concert – This weekend, Saturday 8th July
Pack up a picnic, stock up on fizz and join the party. The most exciting summer proms concert in the country is back at Burghley this Saturday. Limited tickets are available for last-minute bookers!
Opera Evening in the South Gardens – Thursday 20th July
Join Wild Arts for a magical open-air performance held in the stunning South Gardens of Burghley House.
90s Silent Disco – Saturday 16th Sept
Silent Disco comes to Burghley for the first time ever! Boogie within the historic courtyards to your favourite 90s tracks.
Gents of St John’s Choir – Thursday 21st Sept
Enjoy an evening of song from the internationally-renowned close harmony group of the St John’s College Chapel Choir in the magnificent Great Hall.
Don’t forget about Burghley’s fabulous Summer Fine Food Market – Saturday 26th – Monday 28th, August Bank Holiday
One of the most popular events returns again this summer. Enjoy delicious artisan food & drink in the wonderful Chestnut and Stable Courtyard.
For something completely different, book a seat at Burghley’s off-grid restaurant
Fine dining with a wild twist! Prepare for an exclusive outdoor dining experience and cooking masterclass at the heart of the Burghley Estate with Fire & Wild. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind culinary journey with a sensational 5-course tasting menu curated by hunter-gatherer and live fire chef Mark Andrews.
Defender Burghley Horse Trials – Thursday 31st August – Sunday 3rd September
The world’s greatest 5* equestrian event is just around the corner. Witness exhilarating equestrian action alongside Burghley’s famous shopping avenues. Tickets are available to book on all competition days.
Burghley TV
The ONLY place for uninterrupted access to event coverage. An all access pass to the heart of the action, subscribe for just £20.00.
Great days out this summer…
Remember Burghley House & Gardens are open to visitors throughout the summer season where you can explore its magnificent state rooms and discover the beautiful gardens.
Councils want project to be a breath of fresh air
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”.
Duke of Gloucester visits Lincoln
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.
The redevelopment of The Cornhill Quarter has taken place over the last few years, and now features a range of restaurants, shops, a gym and a cinema for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Lincolnshire Co-op and many local businesses rejuvenated the area with a £70 million programme, including the refurbishment of the Corn Exchange buildings.
Funders for refurbishment projects in this area include: City of Lincoln Council, The National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Be Lincoln Towns Deal Fund, Historic England, Heritage Lincolnshire, Pilgrim Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation and Changing Places.
After taking in Sincil Street, The Duke was introduced to Cornhill Market, currently well underway with its redevelopment plans. He also met a number of tenants trading in The Cornhill Quarter to hear about life working in the area since its transformation.
The Duke saw the hard work that has gone into restoring the Grade II listed building, and new features including the opening of the previously blind arches, the new colour scheme and light fittings.
The redevelopment of the market is part of the government’s Be Lincoln Town Deal, a £19 million investment plan in which City of Lincoln Council has received funding to support the growth and development of the city. Funding has also come from Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.
Local community invited to official opening of Gusto House – a hub for collaboration, innovation, and community engagement
Gusto Group are inviting the local community to the opening of Gusto House, a state-of-the-art co-working space, office, and ‘The Allotment Kitchen & Deli’ plant-based café in Collingham. The event is on Friday 14th July at 5pm, with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6pm, by celebrity chefs BOSH!
Ideally located next to Collingham train station, the main area of Gusto House will serve as a co-working space for local businesses and freelancers, remote workers, artists/makers, as well as offices for the Gusto Group businesses. The building has been designed with community in mind and will be running programs and events covering topics from fitness and cooking, through to business startups and art classes.
Nestled next to Gusto House, ‘The Allotment Kitchen & Deli’ is an inclusive space that serves authentic, local, tasty and nutritious food. In addition to the usual coffee, tea and cake you’d expect to find, they have a menu packed with freshly made sandwiches, salads and hot food options for breakfast and lunch made using locally sourced ingredients. The ideal place to take a break from your working day at Gusto House.
Gusto House has additional spaces to allocate, and are eager to hear from you: “We believe in the power of community and would love to incorporate ideas from our local neighbours. We are currently exploring various options for this space, including creating community spaces, a gym, youth activities, parent and baby/toddler classes, and offering artist studios (with the hope that this can also serve as a gallery/pop-up shop). We want this space to be a positive addition to the local community and welcome all suggestions and feedback on our plans so far.”
Come along on the 14th of July for a celebratory drink, light nibbles, to view the space, hear plans and get the chance to share your feedback and ideas.
Event Details:
Date: Friday 14th July 2023
Time: 5pm for the 6pm Official Opening
Location: Gusto House, Green Way, Collingham, NG23 7SF
Ticket Info: The event is free of charge, but please sign up via this ticket link https://www.tickettailor.com/events/gustohouse/951574
Solar panels cut fuel use on West Lindsey bin lorries
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.
