Solar farms would be a catastrophe protests Council
It would be a catastrophe to build four nationally-important solar energy projects in the West Lindsey area of Lincolnshire believe its councillors, and they’ve written to the Government’s Environment Minister to tell him so.
Councillors say they’re extremely concerned about the scale and number of solar projects, which would account for almost a fifth of all solar energy generated in the UK, because they are shut out of the planning control process, which instead rests with national government.
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Owen Bierley said the ‘sheer scale’ of the proposals in West Lindsey was at odds with both local and national policy.
He said: “It does not effectively balance the need for local social and economic prosperity, self-sufficiency in terms of food production, and the protection of open countryside against the need to generate green energy nationally.”
He has written to the Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley north of the Humber, urging him to consider the wider impacts.
He said: “If these proposals and others like them are allowed to go forward, driven by market forces and economic expediency alone, the impact on the countryside and rural communities would be catastrophic.”
Cllr Bierley strongly believes that rural districts have a key role to play in achieving self-sufficiency and realising net zero by 2050. But he stressed that allowing the market to drive these schemes removes the ability for the country as a whole to appropriately plan future land use requirements. He added: “Ultimately it will affect the country’s ability to deliver sustainable food supply for future generations.”
The Council is aware of the challenges currently faced by farmers due to the uncertainty around future subsidies and financial incentives, leading them to part with land they would otherwise farm.
The letter outlines how the current proposals would also undermine competing priorities including that of the visitor economy of West Lindsey, which generates £43.67m for local businesses.
Cllr Bierley said: “West Lindsey’s unique selling point is access to the great outdoors, big skies and open countryside. Development on an industrial scale is not conducive to protecting or enhancing this critical income stream for a rural area’s West Lindsey.”
Tourism experts at Destination Lincolnshire, which is committed to growing the visitor economy in Lincolnshire, believes the project should be rejected. Charlotte Goy, Chief Executive of Destination Lincolnshire, urged the MP to consider the long-term implications and negative consequences of having a solar farm of this scale in this location in Lincolnshire.
She said: “I believe it will impact not only on the immediate businesses near it, but on the whole ecosystem of Lincoln and Lincolnshire as a visitor destination.”
Destination Lincolnshire believes its objection is aligned with national government encouraging positive visitor experiences in rural destinations post covid; a government which has gone to extraordinary lengths to support the sector financially.
Charlotte added: “As the sector recovers from the worst of the pandemic there has been an overwhelming demand for quality tourism experiences from a domestic market which enhance the place DNA and appeal of UK destinations – and Lincolnshire’s countryside offers just this.”
Immersive children’s entertainment arrives at The Drill
Iconic Lincoln arts venue, The Drill will host a series of local events for families this autumn, with a range of inclusive entertainment for young children.
The Drill will host engaging community-centred events including ‘Lil’ Drills’ – a weekly creative session for preschool children – as well as a ‘Diddy Disco’, an immersive disco for under 7s.
Craig Morrow, theatre manager at The Drill, said: “If you’re the parent of a young child or toddler, we know that there are often not enough opportunities to unwind, let your hair down and enjoy quality time together, especially mid-week. Whether you want to party with your little ones, give them an unforgettable shared experience based around storytelling, music or dance – or simply have them expend some energy to make your day easier, our family-friendly programme has got you covered.
“If your children haven’t tried Lil’ Drills or our Diddy Disco before, they’re in for a treat. With themes of music, dance and storytelling, it’s an enriching experience that little ones will love. The session varies every week to make sure it’s always fresh and fun.
“On top of this, our Diddy Disco is the ideal opportunity to connect with your kids in a completely safe ‘club’ environment. It’s a combination of exciting music, colourful lights, and a fun, friendly atmosphere little ones and their grown-ups will love.”
Running weekly from 10:30 – 11:30am until 29th November, ‘Lil Drills’ gives toddlers the opportunity to embrace hands-on learning with deeply engaging sessions for children aged 18 months and older. Organised by Rhubarb Theatre and led each week by a different local artist, it’s terrific for toddlers and their grown-ups to enjoy together. It features varying themes of music, dance and storytelling, meaning they’ll always be able to experience something new and energising.
‘Diddy Disco’, which will be held on Wednesday 12th October and Wednesday 2nd November at 10:30am, invites under-7s and parents/guardians to enjoy a delightful disco in a safe and inclusive environment. Hosted by Disco Doris and Disco Debs, Diddy Disco mixes nostalgic floor fillers with the most recent chart hits.
From beats to bargains, there’s a whole host of other events that may interest families, such as the upcoming flea market. Taking place on Sunday 30th October from 10am – 5pm, it could be an ideal opportunity for parents to purchase a whole range of nearly new or secondhand goods, including children’s books illustrated by Lincoln’s own Helen Hancocks. Helen has illustrated such modern classics as ‘Penguin in Peril’, ‘Why Do We Wear Clothes?’ and ‘How To Look After Your Human (A Dog’s Guide)’, as well producing work for well-known institutions like The Victoria & Albert Museum.
Refreshments are available on site from the Limelight, the venue’s very own restaurant, ensuring that it’s everything you could need for an unusual and eclectic day out.
To purchase tickets, or to see the full schedule of all upcoming shows at the revamped community hub and entertainment venue, visit https://www.lincolndrill.co.uk/whats-on/ or download the full brochure.
Quickline brings full fibre broadband to Flixborough
Rural broadband specialist Quickline Communications is connecting village residents and businesses with game-changing full fibre broadband.
Flixborough, in North Lincolnshire, is the latest rural community Quickline is providing with lightning-fast, reliable broadband.
It means the almost 200 homes and more than 400 businesses in the village will have access to fibre broadband for the first time.
Half of the households in the area pre-registered their interest in taking the service and, with the infrastructure for Quickline’s rollout already in place, the first customers are now being connected.
Homes and businesses in Flixborough who join the Quickline network will see typical broadband downloads increase from just 17 Mbps to gigabit-enabled speeds.
The rollout is part of Quickline’s ongoing programme to bring high-speed broadband to outlying communities, including in North Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire and North and West Yorkshire.
Quickline is delivering “broadband for the better” to homes and businesses in rural communities through a market-leading hybrid network, combining fibre and fixed wireless broadband.
Flixborough features a mixture of village homes and commercial and industrial premises, with many based on Flixborough Industrial Estate.
The fibre rollout will mean residents living in Lodge Lane, High Street and Burton Road in Flixborough can enjoy all the benefits of fast and reliable broadband, including streaming, online gaming and video calling family and friends. The fibre service will also extend to the neighbouring hamlet of Normanby.
Chris Akrill, Quickline’s Head of Fibre Operations, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer fibre in Flixborough, which will transform how this community uses the Internet.
“With the mixture of residential properties and businesses in the village, our fibre service is the ideal solution to meet the needs of all users in the area.
“Having fast and easy internet access is now an essential part of daily life and we’re here to ensure it’s a reality for rural internet users. Our rollout in Flixborough is yet another example of Quickline delivering on our mission to reach communities that have been left behind by other providers.
“We want to ensure residents and businesses in Flixborough have the most robust and reliable connections and high speeds, while also bringing improved internet access to many other communities.”
Flixborough residents Edwin Koert and partner Filipa Felix welcomed Quickline’s rollout of fibre broadband and said it would make a huge difference to residents and businesses.
Edwin said: “We’re absolutely delighted to join Quickline’s eagerly-awaited fibre network and we’re convinced it will be a massive success.
“Everyone is really happy about the rollout. Our address is in a blackspot with every provider. If I’m watching YouTube and my partner is making a WhatsApp call, my picture freezes. It has been terrible.
“Fibre will definitely be a game-changer for the community and we’re looking forward to having a good service.”
New Coastal Country Park trail lets more people enjoy Lincolnshire’s coast
Lincolnshire County Council has invested £10,000 on an ‘all ability’ path at Chapel Six Marshes Nature Reserve.
Located just north of Chapel Point, sandwiched between Roman Bank and the beach, Chapel Six Marshes Nature Reserve is a popular destination for locals and tourists wanting to experience Lincolnshire’s unspoilt coast.
The refurbished path has been specifically designed to be accessible for all, especially the less mobile. Without any steep climbs or cambers, the path weaves its way around an area of ponds and marshland allowing people to get close to nature.
During the summer months, this area is alive with birds, including many warblers, some of which travel all the way from Africa just to nest here.
The path refurbishment cost £10,000 and has been partially funded by the car parking charges at the county council’s coastal car parks at Chapel Six Marshes, Wolla Bank, Anderby Creek, Marsh Yard and Huttoft Car Terrace.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for environment at Lincolnshire County Council, welcomed the completion of the new path. He said: “The Lincolnshire coast attracts tens of thousands of holidaymakers and day-trippers each year, both to the resort towns and the unspoilt nature of the Coastal Country Park.
“Nature reserves, country parks and other green spaces are so important for our physical and mental health, and we don’t want mobility issues to be a barrier for people visiting Lincolnshire and enjoying those benefits.
“Here at Chapel Six Marshes, this major upgrade of the trail through the nature reserve will allow visitors of all abilities the chance to enjoy this beautiful part of the Lincolnshire coast.”
The Annual Festival of Drawing returns to Gainsborough
Local residents are being asked to come along to The Big Draw in Sweet Caroline’s in Gainsborough as part of Gainsborough’s Townscape Heritage projects.
On Saturday 22 October 2022 from 10am until 4pm an annual festival of drawing which takes place in towns and cities all over the world will take place in West Lindsey.
Each year the festival has a theme and this year’s theme is ‘come back to colour’. This theme fits with Gainsborough’s current restoration projects around the Market Place, Market Street, Silver Street and Lord Street, which are currently underway.
Councillor Paul Howitt-Cowan, member champion for heritage and leisure at the West Lindsey District Council, said: “This annual drawing festival is a fantastic opportunity for our residents to get involved in a free workshop and spend their day getting creative. We are delighted to see the festival returning to West Lindsey once again.”
Townscape heritage activity co-ordinator, Theresa Workman, has been planning the event. Theresa said: “We are delighted to be able to host this event in Gainsborough once again. There will be a free workshop to design new window illustrations for Gainsborough Heritage Centre, which is a fantastic opportunity for our local residents.”
During this event, local residents will also have the opportunity to make lanterns. These lanterns can be used on the Illuminate Guided Walk which forms part of the Illuminate event.
The Illuminate event will return on Saturday 26 November 2022, where Gainsborough will once again be filled with light and sound with fabulous projections on the walls of Gainsborough Old Hall, a fire garden in the grounds of All Saints Church, street performers and a guided walk along Trent Riverside.
Hocus Pocus Halloween Trail and Pumpkin Patch at Bransby Horses
It feels like we have barely waved goodbye to summer and Halloween is fast approaching.
To get everyone into the spirit Bransby Horses has a spooky Scavenger Hunt running throughout October, alongside their ever-popular pumpkin patch.
A Bransby Horses spokeswoman said: “We have pumpkins of all shapes and sizes to choose from and think everyone is really going to enjoy visiting our Sponsorship Star Pecan’s pumpkin patch.
“We can’t wait to welcome families to our site for some half-term Halloween fun. Every penny of profit made from these activities goes directly back to paying for our equine rescue and welfare work, so it’s a great way to support us too.”
Tickets to take home a pumpkin from the patch are £3.50.
The Scavenger Trail is £3.50 per child, adults go free and this includes an activity sheet and an exciting prize at the end.
Halloween festivities at Bransby Horses run from October 1 – 31.
The café will also be open serving breakfast, lunch and light refreshments to eat in or takeaway – there’s always a delicious cake selection, which includes vegan options to cater for most diets and tastes.
Bransby Horses is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 4pm. They are also open seven days a week during Lincolnshire school holidays and bank holidays as follows;
- Wednesday October 19 – Sunday October 30
- Wednesday December 14 – Saturday December 24
- Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Spalding Pumpkin Festival to take place this weekend
The ever-popular Spalding Pumpkin Festival will take place this weekend, celebrating local horticulture and harvest time with a vast selection of craft activities, interactive games, live entertainment and food and gift stalls for all to enjoy.
South Holland District Council has organised a jam-packed Saturday (8 October) starting at 11am in the town centre, with visitors able to take a stroll down ‘Pumpkin Street’ to see the incredible pumpkin-inspired sculptures on display from local artist Jonathan Nichols, before heading over to the main stage for live music and to shop at some of the local market stalls.
There will also be plenty for children to get involved with too, with the South Holland Centre broadcasting a one-off showing of the classic 1950’s Disney film – Cinderella at 10am, followed by the chance for children to meet the real-life Cinderella and have a picture taken with the Disney princess and her beautiful carriage!
Additionally, there will be ride-on pedal tractors for little ones, as well as a craft corner where you can decorate your own pumpkin.
Broad Street Methodist Church will also be joining in, with the opportunity to craft and relax at their coffee morning until 1pm.
Back in the town centre there will be a scarecrow competition, offering families the chance to win a group-ticket to December’s Cinderella pantomime, and goodies from fantastic market traders, the annual window display competition, street entertainment, fantastic food and lots of other games and activities on offer.
The Light Night event at Ayscoughfee Gardens, taking place on Friday (7 October), which is ticketed for safety reasons, has now sold out. For those still hoping to attend, the Council’s Communities team are operating a waiting list, which can be joined by emailing community@sholland.gov.uk with your name, number of tickets requested and an email address or contact number.
Councillor Gary Taylor, portfolio holder for communities and facilities, said: “It has been fantastic to see so many people wanting to attend and take part in this year’s Pumpkin Festival, and it looks set to be another great weekend of fun and activities for all ages. I look forward to seeing lots of people there across the two days, celebrating the District’s heritage of harvest and horticulture together.”
There will be a road closure in place for Spalding’s Market Place, Hall Place, Sheep Market and Gore Lane on Saturday 8 October from 7am till 6pm for the event to take place. The Sheep Market Car Park will be closed from 5.30pm on Friday until 6pm on Saturday.
Council starts search for demolition partner for Gainsborough project
West Lindsey District Council is searching for a contractor to demolish the former Lindsey Centre in Gainsborough.
The demolition work, expected to start later in the year, will make way for a four-screen cinema, restaurant and commercial units as part of the council’s ‘Thriving Gainsborough’ programme of work.
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Councillor Owen Bierley said: “The demolition of the former Lindsey Centre is a focal point for our plans to create a ‘Thriving Gainsborough 2024’.
“The location has great connectivity across the town that will reinvigorate our historic Market Place. It is an exciting time for Gainsborough as there is currently a hub of regeneration activity taking place in the town centre. We do have a strong track record in delivering successful schemes and I look forward to welcoming a contractor through our procurement process to join us in our ambitious plans to bring real, sustainable change to the town.”
The project forms part of the Council’s ambitious plans to regenerate the wider town centre area, which is undergoing a significant investment thanks to Council’s £18m Levelling up Programme.
”Once the contractor has been appointed, we will work closely with them to minimise disruption to market traders and businesses around the market place.”
Falkland Islands tribute to be installed at International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln
Two identical remembrance installations have been created by Standing with Giants, a voluntary community project set up by founder, Dan Barton.
With the help of a small group of volunteers based in Oxfordshire they create large scale displays to honour our fallen. Their previous displays have been seen in many prestigious sites such as Blenheim Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Lord Rothschild Waddesdon Manor and The Falkland Islands, whilst they’ve fundraised for worthy charities.
Their two latest tributes represent 255 silhouetted life-size figures of Seafarers, Royal Marines, Army, and Airmen and 3 civilians who lost their lives during the 1982 war on The Falkland Islands with Argentina. This and the other display created, which is currently in the Falkland Islands, have been created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of liberation on June 14th, 2022.
The installation will be on display at the IBCC from Wednesday 5th October 2022 until January 2023.
IBCC’s CEO, Nicky van der Drift says: “The IBCC’s focus has always been on honouring those who served and remembrance of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is a huge honour for us to be able to pay tribute to the fallen of the Falkland’s War with this powerful and emotive installation. To have it here over the Remembrance week will bring additional poignancy for visitors.”
Standing with Giants have been overwhelmed by the amazing reactions from Veterans and families of the fallen who have visited their installations and shared their heartfelt stories with them. Kim Casey is the only sibling of the first casualty of the war, POACMN Kevin ‘Ben’ Casey RN. Kevin was lost at sea 23/04/1982 when the Sea King helicopter he was crewman of, crashed into the South Atlantic en route to the FI’s. Kim has cuddled the silhouette of ‘Kevin’, something she has not been able to do for 40 years.
Dan, and two of the team, his son Luke, and Lucy, Air Cadet, travelled to the Falkland Islands in May 2022 to help install the tribute. South Atlantic Trading amazingly arranged the transportation and covered the shipping costs of the installation to travel the 8000 miles, arriving in time to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands.
Lincolnshire green space protected for families to enjoy
A wildlife haven between Bottesford and Ashby is to be protected to create a three-mile corridor of green space for nearby families and visitors.
The two-and-a-half-acre site, to the south of Lakeside Parkway and east of Wisteria Way, will now be cared for and protected to secure and enhance its natural features after being formally designated as a village green.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have a comprehensive plan to protect, enhance and enrich the whole of North Lincolnshire – creating green spaces for people to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.
“This area is home to a growing community, and that they are certain it will be secured for future generations is really important. This will ensure it can continue to be used by those communities.”
By designating the area of land as a village green, which is well used by nearby communities for outdoor pursuits every day, an almost three-mile corridor of green space will now be protected and enhanced running all the way from Messingham Road along the Bottesford Beck linear park through to the existing nature reserve at Ashby Ville.
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for the environment, said: “This is an area well used by the many communities in Bottesford, Ashby and beyond. It is a peaceful and tranquil haven of green space where families enjoy walking and cycling and pet lovers often take their dogs for long walks.
“By allocating the area as a nature reserve it protects it for generations to come. Projects such as this are at the heart of our Green Future strategy, which ensures we enhance and protect the environment now and into the future.”
