Footfall statistics show busiest December in years for Boston town centre

Tess Egginton
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Footfall statistics show busiest December in years for Boston town centre
Boston town centre has enjoyed one of its busiest Decembers in recent years, with a footfall increase of up to 65% and a higher number of visitors than were seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data.
The new figures, shared by Boston Borough Council, show that December 2022 saw higher numbers of visitors to the town centre than over any of the previous three Christmas periods, with a 30% increase from 2021, 65% increase on 2020, and a 12% increase compared to 2019. The Council ran a series of successful events and initiatives to help encourage shoppers into the town over this period, including the popular Festive Market, Illuminate Parade and Santa Fun Run, as well as offering free parking across 15 council car parks in the run-up to Christmas. Over the past year council officers have also been working in partnership with property owners in the town centre to clear up known fly-tipping and dumping hot spots, including at the back of the former Bambridges offices on Wide Bargate, Boston. This work is to help tackle health and safety risks and to make the town centre cleaner and more welcoming. Moving forwards, the Council found out last month that it had successfully secured £14.8m from the Government Levelling Up Fund to help kick-start regeneration and secure further investment to the heart of the town centre. Boston’s Rosegarth Square masterplan, forming part of PE21, seeks to revitalise and repurpose the area between the River Witham and the bus station. It will particularly focus on the area of the former Dunelm / B&M building and the vacant Crown House building, creating a new public park, green spaces, improved pedestrian routes, artwork and other features to create an inviting, safe, accessible and enjoyable place. Councillor Tracey Abbott, Portfolio Holder for Town Centre, said: “It is so encouraging to see these new footfall statistics showing a really positive trend for Boston town centre, reaching higher levels than we even saw before the impact of the pandemic. This is a great reflection of the hard work that has taken place with businesses to make it a desirable and accessible place to visit and shop. “Our fantastic range of local businesses are the heart of the Borough, and it is important that we all continue to take pride in our area and do what we can to support them, now and into the future.” Scott Crowson, Managing Director of Coneys Designer Wear, who have traded in Boston since 1856, added: “It is great to see that an increasing number of shoppers are returning to Boston town centre, and supporting the local independent businesses like ours who depend on them. “Continuing work to make the town centre an attractive prospect and initiatives to help increase footfall is so important for residents and businesses alike, and we are really pleased to see the Council continuing their commitment to this and securing major funding to help transform parts of the town moving forwards.”

Building work starts soon on Epworth’s community hub

Stuart Pearcey
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Building work starts soon on Epworth’s community hub
Building work is set to begin on a new community hub in Epworth near Scunthorpe, the latest step in North Lincolnshire Council’s community investment programme – with others developed and expanded in Ashby, Barton, Brigg, Crowle, and Scunthorpe. Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “It’s great to see work begin on this new community hub in Epworth. This is the latest part of a multi-million-pound community investment programme designed to create spaces for communities to come together. “People have said they want access to key services in locations central to them and we have listened. This investment is all about bringing together support and facilities under one roof and locating them at the heart of communities.” Epworth follows the launch of other community hubs at Ashby Hub, Baysgarth in Barton-upon-Humber, Scunthorpe Central, Crowle’s beautiful Market Hall, and the Angel in Brigg. Located at Epworth Leisure Centre on Burnham Road, the bug will give residents access to a range of facilities including a library, digital technology, lifelong learning opportunities and community kitchens. Cllr Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for rural communities, said: “The hubs have all been tailored to the needs of individual communities. They are adaptable spaces, this latest development in the Isle will help enable local groups to develop and expand, it will have a positive impact on people’s quality of life. “The investment in buildings is backed by a raft of community grants which have built playgrounds, outdoor gyms, wildlife havens and a whole range of amazing planting schemes in communities across the area.” This investment from the council – which last week froze general council tax – complements more than £80m of Government funding which has backed plans for creating a new future in North Lincolnshire.

New campus predicted to be ‘economic game changer’ for Skegness

Tess Egginton
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New campus predicted to be ‘economic game changer’ for Skegness
East Lindsey District Council have given their consent to plans for a new learning campus described as an ‘economic game changer’ to be built at Skegness. It will offer vocational skills training across a range of subjects, and has been designed to ensure programmes will be developed to meet the needs of the local area. The new facility is one of the transformational Connected Coast Town Deal projects for Skegness with the campus set to benefit from £14m in Town Deal funding from the government. The principal focus of the project is to create a new purpose-built college of further and higher education. Ann Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of TEC Partnership, is leading on the campus development and said: “The Skegness TEC campus development is designed to enable a transformational employment and skills programme to tackle the net outward migration of talent and deliver local skills that match the economic vision for the area. “The development of a college within Skegness is intended to drive up the levels of aspiration, improve local access to skills, training and employment, and support upskilling the local workforce.” Contemporary in design and advanced in functionality, the collaborative development of an exemplary Skegness TEC education facility will support the delivery of the highest quality learning in a range of disciplines including construction, engineering, hair and beauty, hospitality, tourism, sports, public services, health and social care, business, digital, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, renewables, electric vehicles and higher education. Chris Baron, chair of Connected Coast, said: “This new learning campus is an economic game changer for Skegness. Through the new state of the art learning offer, people will be able to gain the skills, knowledge, and training they need to access a whole range of employment opportunities. The new campus will enable people to achieve their ambitions, fulfil their potential, and aspire to more. “We are proud to be working together to help to bring this new campus to our community, and we look forward to seeing the significant impact it will have for Skegness and the surrounding area.” Cllr Steve Kirk, Portfolio Holder for the Coastal Economy at East Lindsey District Council, said: “The Skegness TEC provides a new learning and training opportunity for young people and adults to train in their vocations right here in Skegness without the need to travel to other towns to study. “A Further and Higher education facility has been much needed in the town and is something I have been pushing for ever since I became a Councillor. I am very pleased that the £14m of Town Deal funding and the consent through planning permission is now able to make this vision a reality.”

Sutton on Sea Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens redevelopment works to get underway following final planning approval

Tess Egginton
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Sutton on Sea Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens redevelopment works to get underway following final planning approval

Work on a multi-million pound project to bring new investment, opportunities and facilities to Sutton on Sea is due to get underway in the coming weeks, following the granting of detailed planning consent for the redevelopment of the Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens.

Following the approval, initial works to prepare the site are due to get underway soon, with an aim for the new development to be completed and operational by the end of May 2024. The project, which was shaped alongside feedback and consultation with local residents and businesses, is part of the Connected Coast Town Deal and has been approved by the Government to receive £4.2m of Town Deal funding, with the remaining costs funded by East Lindsey District Council. The proposed development is designed to deliver economic growth to the area and provide residents and visitors with state of the art facilities, with the final plans for the Colonnade including a café and restaurant, a Changing Places toilet and a first-floor viewing platform and exhibition space within the main pavilion, as well as two new craft studios beneath seasonal overnight lodges. The enhancements to the Pleasure Gardens will also create new sensory play facilities, additional seating areas, and space for pop-up events and markets. There will also be increased planting and community gardens, a new dunes landscape and additional walkways, as well as the popular paddling pool, anchor water feature, and tennis courts remaining available for public enjoyment. Councillor Martin Foster, the Council’s champion for the project, said: “I am delighted to see this exciting and transformative project take another crucial step closer to becoming a reality for our residents and visitors, and am looking forward to work being able to get underway soon. “An incredible amount of hard work and collaboration has gone into the plans for the redevelopment of the Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens, and I truly believe that they will be a game-changer for the local area for many years to come.” Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for the coastal economy, said: “It’s not every day that projects like this come along, which can bring significant new opportunities, investment and facilities to Sutton-on-Sea and East Lindsey and be of enormous benefit to the entire Lincolnshire Coast. “I would like to thank the residents and visitors to Sutton-on-Sea for their patience with this major project and everyone who has helped get us to this stage. I welcome your continued support as work gets underway and when the new development opens, to help ensure it is every bit as successful and beneficial as it has the potential to be.” Chris Baron, chair of Connected Coast, added: “It is fantastic news that the plans for the Colonnade and Pleasure Garden have been given planning consent and it means that we can now move forward with delivering these significant improvements. “We know that these sites have been visited and enjoyed by many people over the years and now we have the opportunity to redevelop both the Colonnade and the Pleasure Gardens and secure their future for generations to come. “The plans for both the sites are truly transformational and will bring modern, varied, and appealing facilities for local residents and visitors to use and experience.”

Market Deeping takeaway owner fined £2,500

Tess Egginton
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The owner of a takeaway restaurant has been fined £2,500 after admitting a series of breaches of food hygiene regulations in a case brought by South Kesteven District Council’s environmental health team. Mohammed Yaseen, of The Curry Hut, Market Deeping, who appeared at Boston Magistrates Court on Monday 13th February, was also ordered to pay full costs to the Council of £6,494.76 and a victim surcharge of £1,000. He pleaded guilty to 15 charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013. When Environmental Health officers from the Council visited The Curry Hut on July 21st and 26th last year they found examples of poor practice including:
  • Failure to keep floors, walls, doors, toilet facilities and fixtures and fittings in the kitchen and serving areas of the premises, along with storage areas, in a hygienic state
  • Failure to have adequate procedures in place to control and prevent pests
  • Failure to keep raw materials and ingredients in appropriate conditions to minimise the risk of contamination
  • Failure to ensure that all articles, fittings and equipment with which food came into contact were effectively cleaned
SKDC’s Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities, Cllr Annie Mason, said: “Protecting the public and upholding high standards is a key element of the Council’s food safety responsibilities and the vast majority of food businesses in South Kesteven comply with the regulations. “The Council encourages and works with local food businesses to improve hygiene standards and it is unacceptable for a business to allow standards to fall and potentially put people’s health at risk. We can, and do, take formal action against those that fail to comply with the law. “The penalty imposed by the court indicates the seriousness of this case, which was brought following thorough inspections of the premises by Environmental Health officers.”

Sleaford man jailed for making and distributing child sex abuse material

Tess Egginton
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Sleaford man jailed for making and distributing child sex abuse material
A man who made and distributed over 700 child sex abuse material has been jailed. Andrew Kelsall, 31, of Boston Road, Sleaford appeared at Lincoln Crown Court where he was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months for the following:
  • Arrange / facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.
  • Make indecent photograph of a child – Category A.
  • Make indecent photograph of a child – Category B.
  • Make indecent photograph of a child – Category C.
  • Possess a prohibited image of a child.
  • Possess extreme pornographic image/images portraying an act of intercourse/oral sex with a dead/alive.
  • Distribute an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.
Lincolnshire Police received information from Police Scotland about Kelsall in January 2021 relating to chat logs detailing the severe sexual and physical abuse of children. Inquiries were carried out by the Paedophile Online Team (POLIT), and he was arrested on 27 January 2021 on suspicion of making and distributing indecent images of children. During the investigation, the chat logs revealed that Kelsall had planned to meet with a child under 10 years old and her mother to commit sexual acts. It later transpired that Kelsall had unknowingly been talking to a man in Scotland. Thankfully on this occasion, no child came to harm. Kelsall was found to be in possession of 70 Category A images and videos, 15 Category B and 34 Category C images. He was also found to be in possession of 679 extreme images and one prohibited pornographic image. Detective Constable Nicola Paradowski from POLIT said: “After receiving a referral from Police Scotland regarding Andrew Kelsall and the shocking nature of his activities, we immediately launched an investigation to get a dangerous offender off our streets. “This case is a great example of cross-border policing and a message to people out there that we will be relentless in our pursuit of those suspected of this type of offence. We take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously and Lincolnshire Police is committed to keeping children safe from harm.” Kelsall will be added to the Sex Offenders Register and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Man jailed for 18 months after row about missing jumper

Tess Egginton
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Man jailed for 18 months after row about missing jumper
A 21-year-old Lincoln man who stabbed another man over a row about a missing jumper has been jailed. Connor Johnson appeared at Lincoln Crown Court where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Officers were called to a dispute between two men in the afternoon of 26 June 2022 in Larchwood Crescent, Lincoln. Specialist officers were deployed, and upon arrival, found a man in his late 20s with stab wounds to his neck and shoulder. The male victim received medical attention at the scene and was later transferred to hospital. Johnson left the scene but was located and arrested within 50 minutes by Response Officers with the help of the Drone Unit. The knife believed to have been used during the incident was found swiftly by forensics experts as well as officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Johnson was charged with wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon on 27 July. At Lincoln Crown Court, he was sentenced to wounding without intent and was not sentenced for the possession of an offensive weapon.

Spalding man pleads guilty to murder

Tess Egginton
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Spalding man pleads guilty to murder
A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murder and perverting the course of justice. Sam Church had originally denied the charges, following the death of Vincent Markham at a property in Whaplode Drove, near Spalding. Emergency services had received several reports of a fire at the property and an injured man in the front garden, shortly after 1am on 7 August last year. The man, who was later named as 52-year-old Mr Markham, from the Spalding area, sadly died at the scene. Initially it was believed that he had died as a result of the fire. However, it later became apparent that he had sustained a facial injury, with a post-mortem examination concluding that Mr Markham had died as a result of an assault. Suspect Sam Church, aged 36, of Acacia Avenue in Spalding, was located with burn injuries at the junction of Broadgate. Church told a member of the public who came to his aid that he had tried to get someone out of the fire. He was taken to hospital to be treated, but following his release was arrested and charged with murder and perverting the course of justice. Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Our investigations revealed that Church had assaulted Mr Markham before starting the fire. This was a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with Mr Markham’s family.” Church has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 14 April at Lincoln Crown Court.

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance pilot swaps Lincolnshire fens for South African bush

Tess Egginton
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Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance pilot swaps Lincolnshire fens for South African bush
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) will soon say goodbye to home grown pilot Ben Hare as he leaves the life-saving charity to embark on a new adventure with his wife caring for cheetahs in South Africa. He said: “My wife has been given an opportunity to do some conservation-based field research in South Africa working with cheetahs. We met on a similar project, 5 years ago, and having worked with these beautiful cats before, it was probably only a matter of time before Africa called one of us again.” Ben is a Lincolnshire lad and since he can remember always desired to work within a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). In fact, so keen was he to be a member of the LNAA crew that he applied to join two years before a position became available! “My parents are farmers, and I would see helicopters land on neighbouring farms to attend agricultural accidents, so I realise the value that the service has to our county, especially with its poor road network.” Ben joined LNAA in 2021 and has flown over 170 life-saving missions taking doctors and paramedics to all corners of Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire and transporting some of the most critically ill patients to hospitals across the counties and beyond. One tasking on Christmas Eve, 2022 is burned into his memory. He recalls: “Our team was activated to attend a cardiac arrest near Grantham. We were the first medical resource to arrive and after treating the patient, we flew him to Lincoln County Hospital. It was certainly the speed of our helicopter and the immediate intervention from our highly skilled HEMS medics that played a pivotal role in the patient survival.” Chief Pilot Llewis Ingamells valued the impact Ben has made at LNAA. He said: “Ben is a true ‘Lincolnshire Lad’ and will be immensely missed. Not only a superb pilot, Ben is also one of a small number of people internationally qualified to service and repair our state-of-the-art night vision goggles in-house.” Ben will keep a hand in flying helicopters alongside supporting his wife’s work as he has taken a flight role in oil and gas support, something he did prior to joining LNAA. He sums up his experience working with LNAA: “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at LNAA and to my colleagues for the comradery and friendship over the last 18 months. HEMS is known for being difficult to find work close to your home, and many pilots travel across counties to serve an air ambulance. “That being said, I have strong family ties in Lincolnshire, and I hope that when my personal situation allows me to return to the UK, an opportunity at LNAA will again present itself. I would certainly love to come back and serve the people of my county.”

Classic Ibiza at Burghley House renews its support for EACH

Tess Egginton
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Classic Ibiza at Burghley House renews its support for EACH
Classic Ibiza is returning to the stunning grounds of Burghley House on Saturday 29 July, with over 5 hours of Balearic-infused dance music headlined by the 32-piece Urban Soul Orchestra (USO). The family-friendly concert has announced that it will continue to support East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). This will be the third consecutive year that Classic Ibiza has supported the charity that helps children, young people and their families living with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. EACH offers local families flexibility and control over where they receive their care and support – at home, in hospital or at one of three hospices at Milton (Cambridge), The Nook (Norfolk) and The Treehouse (Ipswich).  More than half of the care and support they provide is delivered in the family home and community, in familiar and comfortable surroundings. EACH’s Tina Burdett said: “Classic Ibiza concerts are iconic and being able to work with the team at Revival Productions to raise money is such a fantastic opportunity. Since attending the concerts we’ve raised nearly £10,000 which helps us to always be there for families dealing with the impossible reality of caring for a child or young person with a life threatening condition. We can’t wait to see everyone at Burghley this year and hope you’ll help us make it an event to remember.” There will be various fundraising initiatives taking place on the evening, including a £2.50 donation from every programme sold, a recommended £5 donation from press and guest-list entries, as well as collection points at all entry and exit gates. Further funds will be raised at the EACH shop, selling a range of fun merchandise. A JustGiving page has also been established for those people wanting to donate beforehand. Classic Ibiza’s Lisa Ward said: “EACH is an incredible charity, providing inspirational support in the local area. Their fabulous fundraisers certainly brought some extra colour and fun to our show last year. Burghley is once again due to sell out, so we hope to help them raise even more money to continue their amazing work.” Gates open at Burghley House at 5.30pm, with the show starting with a Chill-Out DJ Set. Former Pacha Ibiza resident, DJ Jose Luis then takes control of the decks for his Afro/Latin House Set. Next up, USO and DJ Goldierocks take centre stage for the Sundowner set, followed by Goldierocks’ House DJ Set. The show then reaches a rapturous crescendo as USO return to the stage for the Dance Set, accompanied by an awesome laser & light show. This year’s concert includes 15 completely new arrangements in an orchestral programme of over 30 house classics. Information: Car-parking is free, bring your own picnic or visit the numerous street-food vendors and San Miguel Bar on site. Prices: Adults (over 18s): £48, Children (aged 5–17): £24, Under 5s: free. Visit: classicibiza.co.uk   Image credit: David Evans
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