East Lindsey District Council has revised its dog exclusion zones to match the areas of the Lincolnshire coast awarded Blue Flag status.

The update follows a 2024 public consultation on the renewal of the Public Space Protection Order, which asked residents and visitors for feedback.

As part of the changes, clear banners have been installed across the beaches to mark where dogs are and are not allowed. Leaflets with maps of the restricted zones are also available at lifeguard huts and online.

The adjustments aim to make it easier for beachgoers and dog owners to understand the rules while supporting the environmental standards required for Blue Flag recognition.

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Councillors in Lincolnshire are set to consider plans that could shorten rail journeys between Lincoln and Nottingham. Network Rail will present an update on proposals to modernise the line at a transport scrutiny meeting on 8 September.

The scheme involves closing the Swinderby signal box and re-signalling the route for trains to run at 75mph, compared to the current 50mph. Journey times between the two cities currently range from 50 to 60 minutes, though the extent of time savings from the upgrade has not been confirmed.

The improvements form part of a wider timetable change due in December 2025, which will see services between Lincoln and Nottingham increase from one train an hour to two. This will be achieved by extending existing Newark Castle services through to Lincoln.

Upgrades include four level crossing improvements and the introduction of new signalling systems. The changes also aim to ease bottlenecks at the flat crossing near Newark, where regional trains intersect with the East Coast Main Line.

Network Rail is working with Midlands Connect and other stakeholders on the plans, which are expected to be funded through higher passenger numbers, efficiencies, and adjustments to rail fares.

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As part of work to ensure mental health patients receive the right support, at the right time, in the most appropriate service for their needs, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is working with Turning Point, a social enterprise, to develop a new countywide mental health step-down service in Grantham. Initially intended to be a two-year pilot, the service will be opened in Ashley House in Grantham, a previous mental health rehabilitation unit in the town, and will support people from across the county who are being discharged from a mental health hospital. The unit will support 15 guests for up to eight weeks, as they move on from being in hospital and transition to living independently again. Turning Point, will be running the service on behalf of the Trust, providing non-clinical support to guests while people arrange accommodation, access benefits and re-build their confidence with life skills such as shopping, cooking and budgeting which they may not have used for a while. The team will also be helping people find organisations and groups in their local community to connect with and build their social networks. Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust specialist community mental health teams will continue to support people with their on-going mental health needs. The service will support individuals to leave hospital as soon as they are clinically ready, freeing up beds for those in more acute need and providing a much-needed stepping stone for people after being in hospital. Paul is a former guest, volunteer and now a Turning Point member of staff at Beacon Lodge, a similar mental health step-down service run in Nottinghamshire. Paul said: “Turning Point provide a great service to people who are struggling with mental health issues. Within minutes of entering Beacon Lodge, you know you are in a good place, you are put at ease with the calming atmosphere and the friendliness of the staff. “I cannot thank Turning Point enough for the help I received whilst I was in their care, and I know they improve the lives of 100s of people each year who enter Beacon (Lodge) in a bad state of mental health then leave in a far better state of mind, with better life skills to help cope living with their own health issues.” Nick Harwood, director of operations for adult community services at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “By developing a step-down service we’ll be able to provide a more appropriate environment for people when they no longer need intensive mental health care. Freeing up more capacity to keep people in Lincolnshire for their hospital care and providing a better experience and outcomes for our patients. “This new model of care isn’t new funding, its just allowing us to repurpose spend currently used to care for people out of area in a more innovative and effective way, to keep people as close to home as possible, in a more suitable environment for their needs. “We are so pleased to be working with Turning Point on this project. They have a wealth of experience of supporting people with mental health challenges and run similar services elsewhere across England which we hope they will be able to share their experience.” Turning Point chief operating officer, Clare Taylor added: “We would like to extend our gratitude to colleagues within the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for the opportunity to deliver this innovative stepdown service for the people of Lincolnshire. “By drawing on over 60 years of experience providing integrated mental health services, Turning Point will create a recovery-focussed and outcome-oriented environment that will provide bespoke impactful support to its guests and wider health and social care system benefits. “We encourage people to attend one of the virtual or face to face information engagement events to gain a deeper understanding of the service, the activities that are already underway; this is an opportunity to meet some of the team and find out how Turning Point enables people to be inspired by possibility.” Turning Point and the Trust will be hosting a number of information engagement sessions both face to face and virtual in early October to meet the team and find out more. These are open to anyone to attend, including patients, their families, staff, local residents or anyone who may be interested in how people across Lincolnshire who experience mental health challenges are being supported. Information sessions will be taking place: Virtually on MS Teams on Friday 3 October either between 10.00am and 11.00am or 2.00pm and 3.00pm Or in person at Ashley House on Thursday 9 October between 2.00pm and 4.00pm People can register their interest in attending by emailing lpft.involvement@nhs.net or calling 07773 206 341.   Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Seadog81

The North Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre has secured a £6,720 grant from North Lincolnshire Council to install a new security system. The upgrade is designed to protect valuable artefacts and ensure the site remains accessible to visitors.

The centre, which highlights the region’s aviation history through interactive displays and educational experiences, is one of many grassroots projects supported by the council’s Community Grant Fund.

Since its launch in 2011, the scheme has provided millions of pounds to local initiatives, including sports clubs, youth groups, charities and parish councils. Grants are also available for venue hire, cultural projects, and individuals excelling in sport, art, or culture.

The latest award underlines the council’s aim to preserve local heritage while supporting community-led activity across the region.

Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council

A £2.4 million glasshouse powered entirely by geothermal energy has opened at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Park. The facility provides year-round stable heat, allowing crops typically imported from abroad to be grown locally, including tomatoes, strawberries and even trial vines.

The site forms part of Greater Lincolnshire’s food economy, which supplies one eighth of England’s food and supports 75,000 jobs. By replacing conventional energy with geothermal heat, the project is designed to reduce costs and carbon emissions while strengthening food security.

The initiative also acts as a test case for wider investment in controlled environment agriculture. Proving the model at scale could draw funding into the county, create skilled jobs and lessen the UK’s reliance on imports.

The glasshouse sits alongside smaller projects already underway in Lincolnshire, including insect farming from food waste and the development of organic fertilisers. Together, these ventures highlight the county’s role as a leader in sustainable agriculture and a centre for innovation in food production.

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More beaches along the Skegness coast are set to introduce free-to-use wheelchairs designed for sand, following the success of a scheme in Ingoldmells.

The chairs feature large balloon wheels that make it possible for people with mobility difficulties to move across soft sand and take part in seaside activities alongside family and friends.

Lincolnshire County Council has pledged funding for eight new chairs, with collection points planned at locations across the East Coast. The scheme is open to all ages and aims to make the beach more inclusive for those who would otherwise find the terrain inaccessible.

The expansion follows positive feedback from families who have already benefitted from the service in Ingoldmells. For many, it has turned days at the seaside into a shared experience, allowing everyone to enjoy the shoreline together rather than watching from a distance.

The initiative continues to grow as part of wider efforts to make Lincolnshire’s coastline accessible to more visitors, ensuring no one has to miss out on the county’s most popular natural attraction.

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Nurseries in Lincolnshire and Rutland will benefit from a £5 million investment in special educational needs training, aimed at addressing the growing demand for specialist support in early years education.

The funding, provided by Lincolnshire County Council and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, will deliver a new Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCO) Skills Bootcamp. Early years provider Realise will run the programme, which opens in 2025/26.

The training is designed for nursery staff qualified to level three or higher and focuses on giving practitioners the tools to identify and support children with a range of needs. It will cover strategies tailored to individual children and guidance on navigating referral processes for specialist services.

Most of the costs are being covered by the council and LEP. Smaller nurseries with fewer than 250 staff will only contribute 10% of the fee, while larger providers will pay 30%.

Realise expects at least 20 nursery staff across the two counties to complete the programme, with the aim of increasing the number of skilled SENCOs available to support children at the earliest stage of their education.

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