Metal detectorists could get access to part of Cleethorpes beach
North East Lincolnshire Council has submitted a proposal to Natural England to trial a free metal detector consent scheme on a specific section of Cleethorpes beach – including the North Prom from the rock groyne at Wonderland and the Pier and between the Pier and the Leisure Centre, from the sea wall to the front of the Pier structure.
The council says it has always wanted to talk to Natural England to ensure correct measures are introduced to balance protection of this highly important coastline – all of which is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest – whilst managing the impact of metal detecting.
Natural England has agreed to consider a proposal from the authority to carry out a trial within a low impact area of the beach to gather information on the number of consents required and understand the impacts of metal detecting.
This will run from its introduction – as soon as possible – to September 30 this year. It is hoped this will lead to a long-term permanent solution being found for metal detecting on Cleethorpes beach. To ensure a permanent solution is found, co-operative and good relationships with metal detectorists and their associations will be sought.
It has already been agreed however that restrictions to detect on the popular tourist section of the beach only will be imposed to protect the SSSI, and consent will strictly apply to the designated area and not extend beyond that or to any other land, inland or otherwise, across North East Lincolnshire.
People who have already registered their interest with the council to metal detect on the beach will be informed as soon as the trial consent scheme is ready. Until then no action will be taken against detectorists. After that time, anyone without consent or straying from the designated area, will be subject to a Fixed Penalty Notice under the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
To ensure necessary protection is in place, North East Lincolnshire Council are working extensively with Natural England to agree a Cleethorpes Habitat Management Plan, which is currently under review. Activities that are permitted in certain areas of both the beach and wider coastline are included within the Plan with permissions and locations detailed.
An online consent request form will be added to the council’s website, www.nelincs.gov.uk, in the coming weeks. People who have already registered their interest with the council to metal detect on the beach will be informed as soon as the trial consent scheme is ready.
Lincolnshire’s Freemasons invite public to say ‘hello’ at classic car event
Lincolnshire Freemasons are giving an open invitation to anyone who’d like to learn more about Freemasonry to visit a classic car show being organised at Doddington Hall near Lincoln.
Freemasons from throughout the historic county of Lincolnshire will be bringing classic and interesting vehicles to the event, which last year attracted dozens of cars and hundreds of spectators, to the grounds of the stately home on the afternoon of Sunday July 23rd.
Said the Freemasons’ spokesman Stuart Pearcey: “This is a very rare opportunity that brings together classic and interesting vehicles with the opportunity to learn about Freemasonry in a relaxed atmosphere and a wonderful setting – and there’s no admission charge.
“This event has been running for several years, and we believe that its current home at Doddington Hall is the perfect location; easy to reach from anywhere in the country, with a great display space and lots of other things to see and do during a visit. We have also been blessed with good weather in most of the other years the event has been staged.”
In previous years exhibitor vehicles have been on one, two, three, four or more wheels, and have even included a steam-driven car. “Perhaps the oddest vehicles have been the monowheels,” said Mr Pearcey, “with engine and rider sitting inside one great big wheel… Talking to us about Freemasonry isn’t compulsory; we’d be happy for anyone to come along and enjoy the event.”
He added: “Freemasonry is one of the oldest secular social and charitable organisations in the world, with its roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our castles and cathedrals.
“Membership is open to men over 18 from all backgrounds, and our organisation’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.
“Freemasonry provides a structure for members to come together under these common goals, enabling people to make new friendships, develop themselves and make valuable contributions to charitable causes. We are one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing £51.1m to deserving causes in 2020 – and we give about £60,000 a day to non-masonic good causes, many of them in Lincolnshire, from the hospice movement and the air ambulance to youth football teams and groups befriending the elderly.”
Urgent call made to energy suppliers: renegotiate fixed contracts for small businesses on market-peak tariffs
Hundreds of thousands of small businesses are trapped in contracts that mean their latest bills are at last summer’s peak market rate for energy – even though wholesale prices have fallen since last winter, new research shows.
The Federation of Small Businesses is urging energy suppliers to allow small firms locked into fixed tariffs from last year to renegotiate contracts to better reflect the significantly lower wholesale energy prices we see today.
This comes a month after massive cuts to government support on energy bills for businesses. Since 1 April 2023, the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has been downgraded to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which changes support to pennies that do not touch the sides of huge bills.
The downscaled government support means small firms that signed up to fixed tariffs in 2022 will see their bills revert back to last year’s peak levels. This could be three or four times what they were paying when the more generous government support scheme was in place.
FSB’s latest research shows more than one in ten (13%) small firms fixed their energy bills between 1 July and 31 December 2022, during which businesses were quoted up to £1 per kWh for electricity. Of this group, 13% say they could be forced to either close, downsize, or radically restructure their businesses, equating to 93,000 small firms across the UK.
A significant proportion of small firms stuck in fixed contracts are from the accommodation and food sector (28%), and the wholesale and retail sector (20%).
Four in ten (42%) small firms that fixed energy contracts in the second half of last year say it has been impossible for them to pass on costs to consumers who had to tighten spending and can’t afford further price increases amid the cost of living crisis.
FSB is calling on energy suppliers to allow these small firms to extend their fixed contracts but at a blended and lower rate – between their original fixed rate and the current, lower wholesale rate.
The option to renegotiate fixed contracts should be made automatically available to businesses which:
- negotiated the new energy contract between July 1 and December 31 2022
- can confirm the level of wholesale price on the contract is above the EBRS wholesale price cap
- can confirm the end date of the contract to demonstrate the length of exposure to higher prices from April 2023 onwards
George III coronation saddle forms part of new display at Lincoln Museum
A saddle thought to have first been used in the coronation of George III in 1760 forms part of a new display of coronation artefacts at Lincoln Museum – formerly known as The Collection
The saddle belongs to the King’s Champion and would have been used at the coronation of each new monarch.
Clad in full armour and carrying a gauntlet, the Champion would ride into Westminster Hall on a white horse and throw down the gauntlet, challenging anybody who denied the sovereign to be the rightful heir to the crown.
After challenging three times, and there being no response, the monarch would toast the health of the Champion, in the knowledge that he or she was undisputed as sovereign.
The earliest record of the ceremony dates to the coronation banquet of Richard II in 1377, with the last such ceremony taking place at the coronation of King George IV in 1821.
The office of King’s or Queen’s Champion has been held by the Dymoke family since 1292, and the title is directly linked to the feudal ownership of their home, the Manor at Scrivelsby in Lincolnshire.
Despite no longer being expected to ride in on horseback, the Champion does still has a role to play in modern coronations.
For Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, Lieutenant-Colonel John Dymoke served as the Queen’s Champion bearing the Union Standard. Charles III’s King’s Champion is the current 34th Lord of the Manor of Scrivelsby, who carried the Royal Standard in the Westminster Abbey ceremony.
The saddle on display in Lincoln is leather covered with red silk velvet and ornamented with silver-gilt lace, braid and fringe, and was probably first used at the Coronation of George III in 1760.
Alongside the saddle, a selection of other memorabilia celebrating previous coronations including Edward VII’s, George VI’s and Elizabeth II’s is also on display.
The King’s Champion saddle and other artefacts are now on display at Lincoln Museum – formerly The Collection Museum – on Danes Terrace, Lincoln. Entry is free.
University’s visiting professor to play key role in Coronation
A Visiting Professor at the University of Lincoln will play a key part in the King’s Coronation later this week by presenting King Charles III with the Robe Royal in which he will be crowned.
Baroness Merron of Lincoln will take part in tomorrow’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey as a Peer representing the Jewish faith.
She will be joined by Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh Peers in presenting the King with four key pieces of regalia during the ceremony. They will make history as the first ever non-Christian figures to be involved in the crowning of a British monarch.
Baroness Merron is a Visiting Professor at the Lincoln Parliamentary Research Centre, which forms part of the College of Social Science at the University.
She said: “This is an honour beyond anything I could ever have imagined. I feel humbled to be making history in a Coronation ceremony that will validate Britain as a ‘community of communities’.
“In his Coronation, HRH King Charles III will demonstrate his commitment to protect the space for faith and its practise through religions, cultures, traditions, and beliefs. Through my part in this, I hope to do everybody proud.”
Invitations to the Coronation of King Charles III have been sent to about 2,000 people including members of the Royal family, politicians, royals from overseas and 850 representatives from communities across the UK.
Strong Girl Squad listed as national award finalist
A group of female strength and conditioning coaches runnings girls-only weightlifting workshops for girls in years 7 to 11 have been selected as a finalist for a national award by the Department for Education.
They’re Lincoln ‘s Strong Girl Squad, and during the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays, they run a Holiday Activities and Food Club on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.
The squad has now been selected as a regional champion for the East Midlands in the inaugural HAF 2023 Awards, organised by the DfE. The club now goes forward to the final judging stage, with the winners due to be announced in a ceremony at the House of Commons on Thursday 18th May.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children’s services, said: “The HAF programme is making a real difference to the lives of thousands of children and young people across the county. Many of our providers really do go above and beyond to give the children and young people an experience to remember, while also explaining the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Strong Girl Squad have provided amazing support to the girls taking part in their club, and I’m delighted that they’ve been recognised for their efforts.”
Kristen Ingraham-Morgan from Strong Girl Squad said: “Everyone at the Strong Girl Squad is beyond excited to be recognised for this award. We have been so fortunate to work with the incredible HAF team at Lincolnshire County Council, who have supported us since the very beginning, and it has allowed us to create a very special experience for the girls in our club.”
Fellow Squad member Claire Kirk added: “We are also looking forward to meeting other regional champions and sharing best practice for even better clubs in the future.”
The HAF programme is a government-funded initiative that provides free holiday clubs in Lincolnshire over the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays. It is designed to ensure a high-quality experience for children and young people providing healthy and nutritious meals and physical activity. Children and young people who attend HAF clubs develop a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related issues, make new friends and have the opportunity to take part in fun and engaging activities.
Get a team together and make a splash for LIVES this summer!
Only a few weeks to go until the 6th Lincoln annual Dragon Boat Race will be taking place on the Brayford Waterfront.
The spectacular event, taking place on Saturday 17th June, has become one of the biggest in the City’s event calendar, attracting hundreds of spectators and competitors on the day.
This year the event is raising money for Lincolnshire’s first responders LIVES and already nearly 20 teams have signed up to take part on the day.
There is still plenty of time to raise a team and join in the fun! So, get your team of up to 10 paddlers, plus a drummer, together and get ready to battle it out in ornate 30-foot Chinese dragon boats.
The event promises to be colourful and great fun, no previous experience is required, just plenty of team spirit!
As well as the boat racing there will also be plenty of family activities, food and drink stalls along the Brayford Waterfront for the whole family to enjoy.
Teams will be encouraged to raise money for LIVES through sponsorship and fundraising.
Kirsty Raywood from LIVES said: “We are delighted to have received such an excellent response to our call for crews from local businesses across the region. The Dragon Boat Race promises to be a great day out and will entice some healthy competition between local businesses in order to raise these vital funds to keep our Emergency Responders on the road and continue saving lives in Lincolnshire.”
For further information and details of how to become a participating team contact Alex Bennett alex.bennett@ringroselaw.co.uk or visit https://www.ringroselaw.co.uk/about/lincoln-dragon-boat-race/
Awards recognise ‘amazing’ contribution made by Lincolnshire’s foster carers
Lincolnshire’s fostering community has come together to celebrate those whose efforts have made a life-changing difference to children in care.
During the ceremony, over 70 local foster carers received awards, with some being recognised for 25 years of service. In addition, there were special recognition awards for those who have made an extraordinary contribution. The opportunity was also taken to welcome new carers to the fostering community.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children’s services, said: “Our foster carers do an amazing job looking after the county’s most vulnerable children and the annual awards are a way of saying thank you.
“That so many people deserved to be recognised for their contribution underlines just how strong the fostering community is in Lincolnshire. However, there’s always a need for new people to come forward.
“Being a foster carer can be challenging, but it’s also hugely rewarding. Foster carers often speak of a sense of pride in seeing the child develop and flourish, and, in terms of practicalities, there is a fostering allowance as well as additional support and training.
“So, if you think you could make a life-changing difference to a child in need, please get in touch.”
Lincolnshire has a diverse fostering community. Each application to foster is considered on an individual basis and you can be a foster carer regardless of your marital status, sexuality, employment status, ethnicity, or religion. However, you do need to have a spare bedroom for a child or young person to use.
If you think you could foster a child and would like to know more, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fostering. You can also get in touch with the Lincolnshire fostering service by calling 01522 554114.
Coronation will be screened live at Lincoln Castle, with free entry
Throughout the bank holiday weekend, the grounds of Lincoln Castle grounds will be free to enter, with a big screen showing the events, live entertainment, fairground attractions, and food and drink vendors.
On Saturday 6 May BBC coverage of the coronation itself will be screened live, then on Sunday 7 May, there’s to be The Coronation Big Lunch. Visitors can bring a picnic or pick up something from Barney’s Churros, Pie-O-Neers or the on-site café. There’s also drinks on offer from a special horsebox bar provided by the Cocktail Gift Shop on Steep Hill.
On Sunday evening, the grounds will reopen from 7pm for the screening of the Coronation Concert live from Windsor Castle. A free ticket is required for this event – available here: www.lincolncastle.com/events.
On Monday 8 May, it’s the Big Help Out and our own volunteer group, Friends of Lincoln Castle, will be showcasing their volunteering opportunities and giving visitors the chance to ‘try before they apply’.
Stephanie Beecher, events officer at Lincoln Castle, said: “Lincoln Castle is often described as ‘the jewel in Lincoln’s crown’, so what better place to celebrate the crowning of our new monarch!
“Over the last few years, the castle grounds have become a space for the community to gather and mark these big national events – from cheering on England in the Euro final, to commemorating the life and reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. We’re continuing that tradition and welcoming residents and visitors to soak in the atmosphere at Lincoln Castle for the coronation this May.”
Plan your visit to Lincoln Castle at www.lincolncastle.com. Entry to the grounds is free. Charges apply for the fairground rides, medieval wall walk, Victorian prison and Magna Carta.
Stamford welcomes a new Poet Laureate
A new Stamford Poet Laureate is in place following a competition at Stamford Arts Centre.
Emily Dickens is the new holder of the title, with Aiden Surridge and Abbie Blair chosen as joint Youth Laureates for the year.
Performance poet Emily said: “This is a huge honour and I am so grateful that I get to grow and take care of the poetry and arts scene in Stamford.
“I’m looking forward to watching the community grow so that the rest of the country can see what we have to offer.”
Emily believes strongly in the diversity of voices and would like to see more women and LGBTQ+ groups at local poetry sessions, sharing their unique perspectives of the world.
A crowd of more than 50 watched as the finalists took part in a live reading for a panel of judges, which comprised Stamford Deputy Mayor Andy Croft; SKDC Arts Programme Officer Karen Burrows; and outgoing Poet Laureate Scott Coe with inaugural Youth Poet Laureate Daniel Paice.
The Stamford Youth Laureate post was jointly awarded to share across the year. Aiden and Abbie will work closely with Stamford Arts Centre and Stamford Town Hall to support the popular local poetry scene.
Aiden, from Stamford, has been involved with the Arts Centre’s regular Pint of Poetry evenings since he was 13. He read his poem, The Way She Swims.
He said: “I feel honoured being Youth Poet Laureate as it’s a big opportunity for me to showcase how diverse poetry can be.”
Abbie, who is currently sitting A-levels, hails from Peterborough and read her composition, Hope.
She said: “I am incredibly thankful to be chosen to be a Youth Poet Laureate and I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with other writers to help encourage the growth of poetry within the local area.”
Outgoing Laureate Scott Coe said: “It’s been an amazing year and I am proud to have carried out my duties and humbled by the response I’ve received.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without support from Karen Burrows and all the staff at Stamford Arts Centre – and also everyone at Stamford Town Council.
“There has also been support from Stamford Diversity Group and MindSpace, both of which I continue working with; I am proud to support the great work that both organisations do for everyone locally.
“Thanks for the support of all the local poets and artists who I’ve interacted with and also the public who it’s been a pleasure to interact with during my time. I would like to thank our inaugural Youth Laureate Daniel Paice; it’s been a pleasure working alongside him and I wish him great success in his future endeavours.”
The Arts Centre, which is run by SKDC, proactively supports poets from across the District with regular poetry and spoken word events. Most recently, the current national Poet Laureate Simon Armitage visited for a special evening of poetry.
