Cleethorpes’ new Coastwatch station has received royal recognition following a visit from The Princess Royal. The mobile surveillance unit, based at Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, marks the town’s first permanent National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) presence.

The station, converted from an exhibition trailer earlier this year, operates as a lookout point over the beach and estuary. It forms part of the NCI’s network of 61 coastal stations across the UK, all staffed by over 2,800 trained volunteers who work alongside the Coastguard, RNLI, Border Force, and emergency services to help protect lives at sea.

Cleethorpes joins nearby East Coast watch stations at Chapel St Leonards, Mablethorpe, and Skegness, adding an extra layer of safety for the popular seaside resort. Since opening, the local team has supported coastal monitoring and safety operations through the busy summer season.

Following her visit, Princess Anne met with volunteer watchkeepers before attending a reception at Cleethorpes Golf Club alongside local council leaders. The event highlighted the community’s growing role in supporting the volunteer-run charity, which aims to secure a permanent base in the area to continue its coastal safety mission.

North Killingholme is enhancing road safety with the installation of a new speed indicator device, funded through a £2,395 community grant. The device will be positioned in a key area of the village to encourage drivers to monitor their speed and slow down in residential zones where families and older residents regularly walk.

The initiative follows concerns raised by residents about road safety and aims to create a calmer, more pedestrian-friendly environment.

This project is part of the Community Grant Fund, a wider initiative that has supported local projects since 2011. The fund has contributed millions to community-led projects across North Lincolnshire, helping towns and villages improve facilities, support young people, and enhance local wellbeing.

Over the years, the scheme has supported a wide range of organisations, including sports clubs, youth groups, local charities, and parish councils, with grants available to both organisations and individuals driving positive change in sport, art, and culture.

The addition of the speed indicator in North Killingholme marks another small but meaningful step in making local roads safer while strengthening the village’s community spirit.

The Billinghay and District Community Pool in Lincolnshire will not reopen next year after efforts to secure enough funding for essential repairs fell short.

The pool, constructed by residents in 1972, has long served as a summer hub for families and swimmers, opening annually from May to September. It closed in March due to structural issues that required new tiles and concrete work.

Volunteers aimed to raise £500,000 to carry out the repairs, but were unable to meet the target. After several months of appeals and outreach to local authorities, MPs, and community organisations, the committee managing the facility announced it would step down, leaving no new members to take over.

As a result, the site will now be handed back to Lincolnshire County Council. The future of the pool remains uncertain, marking the end of more than five decades of community-led upkeep for a local landmark that once stood as a symbol of Billinghay’s village spirit.

A new housing initiative in Scunthorpe is now underway to improve community standards and protect renters.

Landlords in parts of the Crosby & Park and Town wards are now required to obtain a licence under North Lincolnshire Council’s Selective Licensing Scheme. The move targets poor property conditions and aims to create safer, more stable neighbourhoods.

The scheme, upheld by the High Court earlier this year, forms part of a broader local strategy to tackle anti-social behaviour and hold negligent landlords accountable. It will require landlords to maintain their properties to a higher standard and ensure tenants behave responsibly.

Backed by Home Safe, the programme is designed to support responsible landlords while addressing a minority whose neglect has contributed to declining housing and environmental standards.

Running until March 2030, the scheme is part of the council’s wider effort to improve housing quality and encourage greater pride across North Lincolnshire communities.