Some 450 jobs are at risk in Lincolnshire as Bakkavor announces the closure of its Sutton Bridge factory. The company is proposing to close Bakkavor Salads in Sutton Bridge, along with its desserts factory in Leicester, due, it says, to the ‘macro-economic backdrop and in particular consumer sentiment in the UK, which remains very challenging.’ Mike Edwards, CEO, commented:“As with businesses all over the UK, we are having to take decisive action to adapt to the challenging macro-economic backdrop. The decision to close any site is never taken lightly, and we do not underestimate the impact of this announcement on our colleagues and the local communities within which we operate. We remain committed to both protecting our business and doing everything we can to support our people through this difficult time.”

Lincoln Community Grocery, supported by the Government’s Be Lincoln, Town Deal and in partnership with the Message Trust, will re-locate to a permanent premises in January after a successful 1st year.

Three men have been jailed for their part in a series of vehicle thefts in North East Lincolnshire in 2019. Jonathan Bratley, 33, of The Cliff, Scunthorpe, Christopher Smith, 31, of Lock Road, Louth, Shaun Thomas Smith, 32, of Manby, Louth, and John Smith, 21, of no fixed abode, all pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft of a motor vehicle. All four were sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on Wednesday 9th November. Jonathan Bratley was sentenced to three years and six months, Christopher Smith was given a sentence of three years and nine months, Shaun Thomas Smith was sentenced to one year and three months in jail, while John Smith was handed a nine-month suspended sentence. During November and December 2019, a total of 11 vehicles worth in excess of £240,000 were stolen from compounds in Stallingborough, Immingham and Grimsby. John Smith was arrested after an officer from Lincolnshire Police spotted a suspect vehicle near Gainsborough. Shaun Thomas Smith was arrested after a road traffic collision on the M1 in South Yorkshire. On New Year’s Eve 2019, Christopher Smith and Jonathan Bratley were arrested after being stopped by officers in North Lincolnshire whilst driving a car suspected of being on cloned number plates. DC Andy Taylor said: “I am pleased with the sentences handed out to the members of this group, and I am glad they are behind bars where they belong. “We are committed to taking down those involved in organised crime and we will always thoroughly investigate any type of criminality associated with them. These groups are a blight on our society those responsible will be dealt with and brought to justice. “We will continue do everything we can to cause disruption to criminals who think it is okay to carry out crimes of this nature.”

Somercotes Academy has invested in a ground-breaking environmental scheme which will slash energy bills and reduce its carbon footprint. A heat pump, thought to be the first of its kind in northern Lincolnshire, will replace the 31-year-old system to help provide the heating and hot water in a £520,000 scheme. Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust has secured the funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of its Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix Finance. The scheme aims to put the public sector at the forefront of decarbonising buildings in the UK. The school has also installed 359 solar panels at the site and swopped out all internal lights to LED. The project is expected to save more than 3,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide being emitted into the earth’s atmosphere over its 25-year lifespan. Trust Chief Executive Officer Martin Brown said unpredictable and increasing costs of oil, together with the opportunity of funding, prompted the move. “Somercotes is our only Academy where heating is provided by oil,” he said. “We’re proud to be installing energy efficient, air source heat pump technology and showing our students we are reducing our environmental impact, something as young people they feel very strongly about. “The scheme will also help with rising energy costs. Oil for the old boiler system costs around £20,000 annually, expected to rise to between £25,000 and £30,000 this winter.” The air source heat pump is estimated to save almost £9,000 a year and the solar panels more than £12,000 through on-site generation. “With all the improvements, we’re anticipating a cost saving of £21,000 annually, money which can be used to benefit students elsewhere in the Academy,” said Mr Brown. Salix Finance delivers funding on behalf of Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and also offers support and expertise to the public sector to decarbonise, improve energy efficiency and lower bills. The project was driven by Rob Middleton, Facilities Officer at LGAT. He and Facilities Manager Mark Shadbolt watched as the £200,000, 7.5-tonne heat pump, was dropped into its position using a 75-tonne crane. He said: “I saw the scheme through doing some research last October and we heard of our successful bid in February, so it’s been a long road to this point. “It’s going to have a dramatic impact on our carbon emissions. The heat pump will reduce the carbon dioxide produced every year by 69%, preventing 98 tonnes going into the atmosphere annually. The solar panels will account for a further 26 tonnes and changing to LED lights 25 tonnes.” Mr Shadbolt said: “Seeing it in situ is a big relief. Rob’s put in a huge amount of work to get it to this point and we’re just looking forward to progressing with the scheme.” The switch from oil to the heat pump is scheduled to be completed in the February half term. The solar panels across three rooftops have been installed and are already generating up to 50% of the school’s required energy. The heat pump will make up the shortfall. Smart metering and a building energy management system will provide data to ensure the system is operating effectively. Fouad Amuni, client support officer at Salix Finance, said: “Working on the Trust’s decarbonisation project has been really exciting and inspiring. “They got rid of a 31-year-old fossil heating system and are replacing it with clean, energy efficient heat pumps. “They’re also adding solar panels and Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). “They’re making a really positive environmental impact by saving over 3,000 of tonnes of carbon over the next 25 years and at the same time educating future generations about the importance of renewable and sustainable energy.”

A woman who was found deceased at a property in Messingham at the weekend has been identified as 50-year-old Clair Armstrong. Police were called to reports of a concern for safety at a property on Elm Way, at around 12:40am on Sunday 6 November. Upon attending, it was sadly discovered Clair had sustained fatal injuries. Ashley Kemp, aged 54, of Robinson Grove, Hibaldstow has been charged with her murder. He has been remanded into custody to appear at Grimsby Magistrates Court today (Tuesday 8 November). Clair’s family are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for their privacy at this time.

A Red Arrows pilot has been sacked following the launch of an inquiry into sexual assault allegations.

Flight Lieutenant Damon Green was named as the pilot at the centre of the controversy, which is reportedly the biggest scandal in its 60-year famed history and was only appointed to the role of Red 8 last year, but then left for the 2022/23 season citing ‘family circumstances’ ; which could well be related to this inquiry. However, it seems the problem may be wider spread within the organisation as some 40 Red Arrows personnel, some still serving nd some former members, have come forward to accuse their male colleagues of sexual misconduct and bullying. The inquiry which has been launched following the allegations will investigate what has been dubbed as a “toxic culture” within the world-famous aerobatics team and has previously seen claims brought against senior Red Arrows pilots. The RAF insists: ‘We have a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour. Following allegations of such behaviour within the Red Arrows, we commissioned a thorough and far-reaching investigation to establish the facts and have taken appropriate actions where wrongdoing has been proven.’