New powers to be given to Lincolnshire County Council over how roads appear on maps and satnav systems aim to help direct traffic better on county roads.
The Government proposed devolving decision-making to councils as they are best-placed to decide the classification of local roads.
This would help them make clear to drivers which roads are most suitable for through-journeys, potentially reducing congestion on local routes.
At present, if a council wants to change the classification of one of its roads it has to be approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).
Local and Regional Transport Minister Norman Baker said the system currently in use dates back to the 1960s:
“[Councils] can ensure A roads are placed where they want traffic to run, and can lower the category of road in places they want traffic to avoid.
“By making it less onerous for councils to ensure road classification better reflects conditions on the ground, journeys will be easier to navigate.
“We are also using this as an opportunity to invite new ideas of tackling some of the problems caused by satnavs, for example lorries being directed down unsuitable roads,” Baker added.
Local councils will have to send a formal record of any changes to its road network to DfT and the current eight forms will be replaced with just one.
Ian Kitchen, Accessibility Development Manager at Lincolnshire County Council welcomed the new proposals:
“The multitude of different systems of classifications and hierarchies for roads can be confusing for those involved and in particular the travelling public.
“Should the proposals eventually be adopted then we will review the classification of roads and the primary route network across Lincolnshire in the light of this.
“However, we would not expect wide-scale changes since the existing system has been developed over many years to reflect the roles that roads play in providing for the needs of drivers and businesses.
“With regard to satnavs, we are not aware of any major issues with the misdirection of drivers along inappropriate roads in the county.
“However, we are keen to work with satnav producers and mapping companies to explore ways of encouraging traffic, and in particularly HGVs, to use the most appropriate route available,” Kitchen added.
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We want to speak to three individuals in relation to a burglary which took place at Tattershall Farm Park at around 1.45am in the early hours of Monday, 8 August.
A fence was broken to gain access to the grounds, and a rear door to the workshop was forced open. Numerous power tools and equipment were stolen, including a red quad bike, to the value of around £25,000.
The escape was made via the same route across a field to the rear and along Marsh Lane, Tattershall using two-barrel carts from the site to transport the stolen goods down the lane.
If you know these individuals, or you have any further information that will help with our investigation please get in touch.
Please email [email protected] quoting ‘Incident 86 of 8 August’ in the subject line.
Or call 101 quoting Incident 86 of 8 August.
If you wish to remain anonymous you can report any information via CrimeStoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Doddington Hall Farm Shop near Lincoln will feature in a new Channel 5 series which celebrates the British love of a good farm shop.
Episode one of ‘Britain’s Poshest Farm Shop’ is due to air on Channel 5 at 8pm on Friday, August 12. Doddington Hall features throughout episode 1 alongside farm shops in North Wales and Devon.
The two-part series is narrated by Patricia Hodge and described as “a warm and touching look at why we all love a farm shop, the characters that inhabit them and the people behind the scenes that work so hard to create outstanding produce.”
Owner Claire Birch in the Kitchen Garden, a stone’s throw from the Farm Shop.
Doddington Farm Shop Kitchen Garden display.
Doddington Hall said its award-winning farm shop wasn’t built on being ‘posh, but was “born out of a passion to provide our customers with good quality, seasonal, local food.”
Doddington Hall said Production company Out of the Blue TV filmed “on a momentous day when the cows were being put out to pasture for the first time after the winter so they were gambolling in the sunshine.”
Doddington Farm Shop Kitchen Garden display.
Owners Claire Birch & James Birch and stockman Hari Limbu.
Since 2006, the Elizabethan Doddington Hall has been the much-loved family home of Claire and James Birch. Claire’s family have lived in the Hall for over 190 years, devoting themselves to the upkeep, repair and progression of the Doddington Estate.
After a 50 year absence, the formerly neglected two-acre walled Kitchen Garden was restored to its former glory in 2007, inspiring the opening of the Farm Shop followed by the Cafe. Just a stone’s throw from the Hall, it provides an abundance of fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs which take centre stage in the Farm Shop and on Doddington Hall’s menus.
Owner Claire Birch in her kitchen in Doddington Hall, giving a sneaky peek into the ancient recipe archive.
Owner Claire Birch with a Kitchen Garden tromboncino squash.
Over the last 16 years, Claire and James have developed the Farm Shop, Bike Shop, Café, Coffee Shop, Restaurant, Home Store, Country Clothing Store, Holiday Cottages, Bauble Barn, Christmas Tree sales, Weddings and Events businesses; increased public access and organised popular concerts and exhibitions with all proceeds going towards the upkeep and conservation of the historic Hall and Gardens.
This year, the Doddington Hall Conservation Charity secured National Lottery Heritage Funding to develop ‘Wilder Connections’, a project to connect people with nature at Wilder Doddington.
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