£960,000 building improvements funding secured for Lincolnshire schools

Tess Egginton
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£960,000 building improvements funding secured for Lincolnshire schools

Property consultant Eddisons has secured more than £20m of funding to improve buildings at schools across the UK, including £960,000 for the Infinity Academies Trust in Lincolnshire, in the latest round of the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF).

Education sector specialist Eddisons has raised more than £200m in school funding over recent years and the latest round of secured £960,000 funding across five projects for Lincolnshire’s Infinity Academies Trust, which is made up of nine primary schools across the county.

Ian Harrington, head of Eddisons’ specialist education team, said: “This is another year of fantastic results for both our clients and the team. However, the success also highlights once again the fact that education is one of the more poorly funded sectors, with 2,000 projects unsuccessful in their bids in this round of funding alone.

“We will continue to work with those schools and academies that were unsuccessful, to offer guidance on future bids, as well as offering advice on other funding opportunities that are available. With the total CIF pot remaining unchanged on last year, despite base rate inflation being at 11% and construction inflation nearer 30%, it was one the most fiercely competitive rounds of funding we’ve experienced.”

The CIF programme is an annual round of bidding under which academy schools and colleges can apply for funding for the upkeep and improvement of their buildings and to fund expansion projects for schools that have been rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. In total, the Department for Education received funding requests for over 3,000 projects this year, with 1,033 projects across 859 academies being allocated a share of the £456m.

The successful projects will all get underway shortly and will be project managed by Eddisons.

  Image shows Ian Harrington, head of Eddisons’ specialist education team

Revamped building brings flats to relieve homeless pressure

Tess Egginton
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Revamped building brings flats to relieve homeless pressure

Three single-bed units have come on stream in Grantham for South Kesteven District Council to accommodate the most vulnerable homeless individuals.

This follows extensive redevelopment of a property with Homes England funding of £62,000. The units are in a prime location in town to ensure that key support and facilities can be accessed during challenging times in an individual’s life. The units are fully furnished to meet basic needs and add much needed extra properties to enable the council to offer accommodation as part of its statutory obligations to support homeless people. Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Phil Dilks, said: “SKDC works both with the homeless and with those at risk of becoming homeless. “This accommodation offers a more stable environment than the hotels or B&Bs that we currently use and will give individuals a real opportunity to make changes to their current circumstances. “People will be supported through a personal housing plan to enable security and future stabilisation, this could include access to education and or employment and future secure accommodation. “Ultimately, our role is to prevent homelessness wherever possible, by helping those at risk to solve whatever problems may lead to an individual or family becoming homeless.” The funding enabled redevelopment of a former derelict building adding much needed one bedroom accommodation to SKDC’s housing portfolio. Cllr Dilks added: “By purchasing and developing a derelict building the council has made a difference, helping to improve its neighbourhoods and grow communities.” The units are owned by the Council and form part of its temporary accommodation offer, relieving the burdens on the current homelessness crisis that has an increasing impact on the District.

Family event to celebrate river and nature restoration project

Tess Egginton
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Family event to celebrate river and nature restoration project

Childrens’ wood workshops and live chainsaw sculpting are part of a public event in Wyndham Park on Saturday 10 June to celebrate completion of the Witham Slea Blue Green Corridor Project.

Wyndham Park’s free family-friendly outdoor event runs from 11am to 3pm and will showcase the programme’s success, with eco-friendly goodie bags as mementoes. With limited wood workshop places, organiser South Kesteven District Council has urged parents to come early to ensure participation. The Council has been the lead authority in the project funded by the European Regional Development Fund, working in partnership with North Kesteven District Council, the Environment Agency and National Trust. The ambitious £1.23m environmental improvement programme has restored and reconnected the rivers and river corridors through the urban reaches of Grantham and Sleaford and included upgrades to paths and increased accessibility for all. Cllr Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, Chairman of the Witham Slea Partnership Board, said: “We are proud to have been part of such a transformational project to improve important sections of the River Witham and the River Slea. “Nature and our riverside areas are incredible assets to both towns and an extremely valuable and accessible resource for both residents and visitors. “Our event is an open invitation for everyone to come along, see what’s been achieved and enjoy a fun day out.” Key stakeholders and partners are being invited to the June celebration event with a chance for the public to hear more about the projects, split into two areas creating new wildlife-friendly environments for the benefit of local communities. ·       Ten projects have been completed along the River Witham running through Grantham, including one at Belton House. ·       Four projects have been completed along the River Slea, running through Sleaford. Both have involved berms installed in the river by volunteers to improve water flow, wildflower planting, hedgerow creation, wildlife habitat improvements, water meadow creation and fishing access. In Sleaford the work has focused on Lollycocks Field, with community days, new pond scrapes, bulb planting, hedgerow planting and a kingfisher bank created. A new board walk has also been installed, complete with accessibility ramp, turning circle and fish platform. In-channel works at The Hub have created water channelling berms with a new bridge at The Nettles, the community-run natural area opposite Lollycocks Field.

Free day-long entertainment festival promised for Gainsborough

Stuart Pearcey
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Free day-long entertainment festival promised for Gainsborough

A new free entertainment festival will be staged in Gainsborough throughout the day on Saturday June 17th.

The brand new ‘Revive Festival’, set up by West Lindsey District Council in partnership with Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture, will feature acts from as far afield as France, Germany and Spain for an event including group acrobatics, live music, dance, street theatre and a fabulous stunt duet. They will be performing alongside local and community music and dance artists in what is set to be an incredible fun-filled day.

Cllr Lesley Rollings, Deputy Leader of Council and Chairman of Prosperous Communities at West Lindsey District Council, is delighted the Festival will be coming to West Lindsey.

She said: “We are incredibly excited to be holding such a fantastic event within our District, celebrating the talents of artists both locally and across Europe. This certainly is a day for anyone of any age to enjoy”.

During the Festival, which runs from 9am to 6pm, there will be a Community Stage which will showcase some of the best local talent Gainsborough has to offer. The Revive Festival is working in collaboration with the SO Festival in Skegness and Mablethorpe to deliver a programme of international artists that showcase amazing theatre, dance, and arts.

Matthew Archer from Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture, who deliver the SO Festival in Skegness and Mablethorpe, said: “We have enjoyed working in collaboration with West Lindsey District Council over the past months to provide international artists to the residents and visitors of Lincolnshire and look forward to working together going forward.”

All you need to know about all-season tyres

Tess Egginton
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All you need to know about all-season tyres
Changing your tyres has to be one of the most arduous tasks of winter and summer. Not only is it physically demanding, but you really have to know what you’re doing in order to do it correctly. Otherwise, you might have to spend some money on having it done professionally at the garage. But there’s one simple solution – all season tyres. With a set of these, you don’t need to worry about having separate sets for the seasons, finding storage space for them, and then swapping them when the time comes. Perfect for businesses that have big fleets of vehicles and individuals who don’t want to face the task anymore, here’s everything you need to know. What are they and how do they work? All-season tyres basically combine all the best characteristics of summer and winter tyres to create a hybrid tyre that can take on all weather conditions. Winter tyres are usually composed of different materials that are designed to stay softer in lower temperatures. This makes them perfect for cold and slippery surfaces, providing enough coverage to avoid an accident. Winter tyres also have a lot more tread blocks and sipes which improve the overall grip. Summer tyres, on the other hand, are much simpler in design and have far fewer tread marks. The material is also harder to withstand higher temperatures. All-season tyres are great because they provide grip on slippery surfaces all year round, can adapt to the changing of temperature throughout the year, and don’t wear and tear to the same extent as off-season tyres. Do all-season tyres have better grip in winter? All-season tyres perform remarkably well during winter’s more hostile conditions. The tyres are composed of different ingredients that include a special kind of resin that performs well in cold conditions. They also integrate more silica that keeps the rubber of the tread flexible in cold weather. The tread pattern works well too. They have an open pattern specifically designed to disperse of water and slush effectively whilst extra sipes provide more grip on slippery roads. How much do they cost? All-season tyres are generally more expensive than a set of seasonal tyres, but the savings one makes in only buying one set of tyres is significant. The initial cost might be a bitter pill to swallow, but you will soon reap the financial rewards. It might be tempting to opt for a used set that are cheaper, but this isn’t generally advised. Seeing as these tyres are doing all the work all year round, you need them to be in tip top condition to take on any conditions you throw at them. That’s why the expense of a new pair is absolutely worth it.

Avoiding common pitfalls: how to spot red flags when buying a used car

Tess Egginton
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0
Avoiding common pitfalls: how to spot red flags when buying a used car
With cars getting more and more expensive, many of us are turning to used cars to get an affordable deal. The second hand car market has never been bigger and if you’re lucky, you can purchase a car that has only been on the road for a handful of years. However, buying second hand motors comes with its fair share of risks. If you’re not careful, you could cross paths with scammers who are trying to sell faulty cars. However, if you know what red flags to look for, you’ll be in a far stronger position. Curbstoning Curbstoning refers to unregistered dealers posing as a private dealer to get around a few laws. For anyone who wants to buy and sell cars as a business, they need to have a dealer licence, therefore protecting customers from dealers who sell defective vehicles. One way to spot whether a dealer is just posing as a private seller is when they meet you at the curb in front of their private residence or in an empty parking lot. Hence the name! Title washing If a vehicle has been really damaged or has any issues, it should be clearly stated in the title. However, in order to sell their car quicker, scammers will often remove negative information by editing the title or moving the vehicle into a state where a certain brand isn’t well known. Make absolutely sure by getting the vehicle history report or contacting your insurance company with the vehicle registration. These measures should reveal all issues that were not previously stated. Odometer rollbacks Odometers might not be commonplace anymore, but that doesn’t stop scammers selling close to half a million false odometer readings each year. Scammers will often roll back the odometer reading to advertise the vehicle as less used that it actually is, and therefore attach a higher price tag. Hire a mechanic to look over the car and look out for signs of odometer rollback. The vehicle history report might also reveal the vehicle’s mileage at certain points, like at a sale or service appointment. How to safely buy a used car It might feel overwhelming buying a used car when there are so many potential scams out there, but it always helps to ask for a vehicle history report whenever you’re unsure. This will confirm or deny any details you were given for the car. If the seller is reluctant to give it to you, that’s a big red flag. It also always helps to get a professional opinion, so hire a mechanic to look over a potential car. It might be an expense, but it will save you money in the long run if you’re being sold something faulty.

Administrators appointed to Lincolnshire food manufacturer

Tess Egginton
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Lincolnshire food manufacturing business Plant and Bean Limited (P&B) has fallen into administration.

Founded in 2019 and based in Boston, P&B operates in the alternative protein sector, manufacturing for the likes of Quorn, Princes, and Wicked Kitchen.

Like several other businesses across the sector, P&B experienced significant inflation across its cost base, primarily increases in food and energy prices. The business also suffered from several operational issues which resulted in periodic interruptions to production.

Following the appointment of James Clark and Howard Smith from Interpath Advisory as joint administrators on 31 May 2023, the company is carrying out limited trading while the administrators explore options for a sale of the business and its assets. The administrators have retained approximately 25 employees to assist them with ongoing activities.

James Clark, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “Businesses across the food and drink sector, and especially those in highly competitive sub-sectors such as alternative protein, are facing immense pressures at the moment, with rising costs impacting profitability.”

He added: “Over the coming days, we will be working with key stakeholders to explore the possibility of a sale of the business.”

No bags to pick up after your dog? That’s a £100 fine, says council

Stuart Pearcey
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No bags to pick up after your dog? That’s a £100 fine, says council
Irresponsible dog owners are being targeted in the latest offensive across North Lincolnshire designed to protect and enhance communities. While litter louts and people caught not picking up after their pooches can already be  fined, the latest development is to target people out and about walking their dogs without bags to collect the waste – and not having bags could land offenders with a £100 fine. North Lincolnshire Council’s Rob Waltham said: “We will keep saying this until people get the message – it is your dog, and you should clean up after it – it’s disgusting, and it’s lazy to expect other people to clean up after you. “It can blind children. That’s not alarmist, it is a fact. I would not want that on my conscience for the sake of a very simple action of picking up after a dog. “There are thousands of bins across North Lincolnshire and there is no excuse for not having a proper bag for the proper disposal of waste.” It is difficult to catch perpetrators after the act, so the powers available to community wardens mean people who do not have the proper waste bags can be fined £100. In April more than 200 people were fined for littering. The news comes after recent figures revealed the number of complaints about dog mess have reduced. Cllr Neil Poole, cabinet member for environmental operations, welcomed the reduction in complaints but added: “Dog fouling is a scourge on our streets and public places, and it simply won’t be tolerated. “It is an offence not to pick up after your dog, and no decent dog owner will leave the house without a pocket full of poo bags. “We are determined to keep fining the small minority that persists in this disgusting behaviour. They are simply not fit to own a pet and give responsible dog owners a bad name. “Anyone who sees dog mess on the street or who has any information about people who don’t clean up after themselves should let us know. By working together with the community, we can make sure the people who do this are punished.”

CCTV network helps in fight against crime and anti-social behaviour

Stuart Pearcey
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CCTV network helps in fight against crime and anti-social behaviour
More than 150 CCTV cameras are helping in the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour in North East Lincolnshire. Drug dealing, fighting, and robbery are among the incidents captured on CCTV cameras in recent months, helping the Police to respond quickly. North East Lincolnshire Council’s CCTV Network, which has recently undergone a £2.2 million upgrade, is managed by Equans and supports the work of Police and Council officers in keeping residents safe. Between March and April 2023, a number of pieces of footage relating to instances of crime and anti-social behaviour were passed to Humberside Police, involving incidents like a knifepoint robbery, a serious assault, help with a murder inquiry, as well as tracking the movement of a missing young person. Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities in North East Lincolnshire, said: “The CCTV network really does play an active part in the detection and prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour. “Our partners in the Police work closely with out control room to identify, track and apprehend offenders, and to track down vulnerable and missing persons too. “In this round, there was an instance whereby officers were moving to prevent a robbery-in-progress, and our camera operatives tracked the movements of the Police to keep them safe and feed them intelligence. “This network of cameras is a fantastic tool for keeping people safe and I’m pleased to see that it continues to pay dividends.”

Arms Forces Day returns to Cleethorpes with the largest free event on the east coast

Stuart Pearcey
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Arms Forces Day returns to Cleethorpes with the largest free event on the east coast
Armed Forces Day will be celebrated in Cleethorpes again on 16-18 June this year with the largest free event on the east coast – including the return of Cleethorpes Community Carnival will return on the Friday night. On the ground, here’s a number of current and historic vehicles, including the mighty Chieftain tank, coming to town along with various other tracked armoured vehicles. There is a post-war vehicle collection attending too, including a SAS Pink Panther and a Foden Wrecker. These will be stationed in the Boating Lake in the car park, near the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. A mounted display troop of 16th Lancers are also taking part again this year, along with “The Cockleshell Heroes” and “24th Regiment of Foot” re-enactment groups. The Lancers will be performing displays on the boating lack paddock over the weekend and will be leading the Saturday parade in their scarlet uniforms. Meanwhile, the Typhoon display will blast through the skies in the late afternoon on Saturday, and on Sunday, there is planned to be a special display of the Typhoon and Lancaster flying together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid. Also over the weekend, there will be flying displays by the Yak3, Pitts Specials, Miles Messenger, RAF Tutor Display team and the Starlings Aerobatic Team. Entertainment will fill the main stage at the Armed Forces Memorial Gate once more throughout the Saturday, but in a change for this year, there will also be entertainment at the bandstand in the Boating Lake to complement the other displays. The weekend is being supported by traders from Lincolnshire and beyond, with the Big Wheel returning to the leisure centre car park for the weekend, the zip wire and zorb balls in the Boating Lake area, and food, drink and all sorts of gifts available from stands in Pier Gardens, Lower Kingsway and the Boating Lake. Alex Baxter, MD of the Armed Forces Major Events Team, said: “This is the biggest free event on the east coast to thank our armed forces personnel, past and present, for their service to our country and their support to civilian life. We are a small group of volunteers who organise the weekend, and it takes a lot of planning, but it’s always a fabulous weekend in the resort.” Friday 16 June:
  • Midday: trade areas open at Pier Gardens and Lower Kingsway
  • 1.30pm onwards: community groups will take to the main stage at the Armed Forces Memorial Gate with the evening being rounded off with live bands.
  • 6pm – 8pm: Cleethorpes Community Carnival: will set off from Grant Street Car Park around 6pm, taking in Alexandra Road, High Cliff Road and finishing near the leisure centre.
  • 12noon-5pm: Ground displays and trade open in the Boating Lake
Saturday 17 June:
  • 10am: trade areas open
  • Armed Forces Memorial Gate Entertainment stage: various acts will take to the stage through the day
  • 12.30am to 5pm: Various flying displays from will be over the central beach.
  • 1pm: The main parade of vehicles and serving and former military personnel (Grant Street to Cromwell Road)
  • 10am to 5pm: Ground-based displays open in the Boating Lake
  • Around 3pm: Mounted display troop of 16th Lancers – Boating Lake paddock
  • 6.30pm: Sunset parade at the Armed Forces Memorial Gate
  • Approx 1030: Laser light display
Sunday 18 June:
  • 10am to 5pm: trade areas open
  • 1pm to 4.30pm: Flying displays at the central beach
  • 10am to 5pm: Ground-based displays in the Boating Lake
  • 11am and 2pm: Mounted display troop of 16th Lancers – Boating Lake paddock
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