The owner of a diesel generator powering a convenience shop and flats on Monks Road, emitting plumes of smoke, faces a fine of up to £20,000.
Since March 2011, the Arboretum Corner Premier and flats above have been powered by a large generator due to the landlord not being on the electricity mains.
For a number of months the unit only used an environmentally-friendly biofuel generator which emitted neither fumes or excessive noise.
However, in more recent months the landlord changed to a generator using fossil fuel, meaning large clouds of smoke were emitted within the immediate residential area.
A number of complaints were raised by local residents, who are concerned that the smoke emitted is harmful to health and that the generator causes a lot of noise pollution.
One resident on Arboretum Avenue said: “This morning, I came down to discover large clouds of noxious smoke more than 20 houses further up the street from the shop.
“This smoke is issuing from a diesel generator supplying power to the corner-shop and adjacent residential property. Not only was this smoke flowing up Arboretum Avenue, but also along Monks Road.
“I have previously spoken to the landlord of the premises about this and he assured me it would be remedied soon.
“However, that was months ago and rather than improve, the situation has only deteriorated,” the resident explained.
“Further to the nasty air we’re all living with, several people in the houses opposite the shop have complained of the noise pollution created by the generator running through the night.”
‘A complicated case’
The generator goes against one of the City of Lincoln Council’s plan to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, as well as breaking the Environment Act 1995, which allows the authority to monitor air quality in the city.
After further examination, the council hpresented the landlord with the choice of removing the generator or risk paying a £20,000 fine.
The owner of the generator also may be dealt further fines, due to planning permission problems and previous issues regarding the wellbeing of his tenants.
Ian Wicks, Pollution Control Officer at the City of Lincoln Council, said: “This is a complicated case of nuisance, which has involved a number of departments in the City Council.
“Although generators have been used at the property since March 2011, we have been made aware most recently of a new generator that is emitting significant fumes into the local area.
“As a result, we have served the owner of the building with an Abatement Notice under the Environmental Protection Act, requiring him to either reconnect to mains electricity or replace the generator with one that meets current emission standards.
“Whichever solution the owner chooses, there should be no visible smoke emitted and he must take this action within 21 days. If this isn’t done, we will look to prosecute, which could result in a fine of up to £20,000.
“This is a particularly difficult case, as the shop management and tenants in the flats above the shop rely on having electricity, but are not responsible for the problem.
“The building owner has previously been served with a Housing Improvement Notice by the council’s Private Housing Team, requiring him to reconnect to the mains electricity for the benefit of his tenants. However, this was delayed by an appeal made by the owner to the Energy Ombudsman.
“Now that this appeal has been resolved, we are able to prosecute, which could lead to a further fine of £5,000.
“The council’s Planning Enforcement Team is also aware of the case, because planning permission is required if a generator is to be used as a permanent energy source.
“From an environmental protection point of view, I would like to reassure residents that we are taking action against the owner of this building, and will monitor the situation carefully, taking further action if necessary.”
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It has been a tragic week with three deaths on Lincolnshire’s roads after two male motorbike riders and a man on a pedal bike lost their lives.
The roads are now busier again after further lockdown restrictions were eased on April 12, but since then three men have sadly died.
A man died after falling from his pedal bike in Branston on Wednesday, April 14 and police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
On the same day, a 34-year-old male died after a crash involving two motorcycles near Gainsborough.
The man who lost his life in the collision was riding a silver Wuyang motorcycle. The second motorcycle was a blue Suzuki being ridden by a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries.
A 54-year-old man from North Lincolnshire also died after his motorbike crashed with a Royal Mail post van on the A631 near Glentham at around 4pm on Thursday, April 15.
This comes after it was revealed on March 11 that for the first time in over three decades nobody had died on the county’s roads in the first months of the year, according to Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
Lincolnshire Police revealed earlier this week that between 2018 and 2020 twenty five motorcyclists lost their lives on Lincolnshire’s roads.
There have been 285 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and eight COVID-related deaths so far this week – a 7% drop in cases and one less death from the previous week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 32 new cases in Lincolnshire, eight in North Lincolnshire and three in North East Lincolnshire.
On April 16, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported two hospitals this week so far, compared to none this time last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 2,596 to 4,383,732, while deaths rose by 34 to 127,225.
In local news, Lincolnshire health bosses expect COVID-19 cases to rise in our region as lockdown is eased, but are optimistic that if numbers are kept low enough, then people will be free to enjoy the summer.
Andy Fox, Deputy Director of Public Health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the lifting of coronavirus restrictions this week had not caused any specific concerns yet.
Since Wednesday, Greater Lincolnshire has again seen a decrease in its infection rates overall, against an increase nationally.
All districts have seen a fall in their rates, except small increases in North Lincolnshire and South Holland. Lincoln has stayed the same and has the lowest rate in the region.
Boston has the highest infection rate of COVID-19 in Greater Lincolnshire and is ranked 9th in the UK.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 16:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 9 to Apr 16. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
England’s R number has dropped slightly to between 0.7 and 1 according to the latest data this week. This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass it on to between seven and 10 others.
The new Indian variant of the COVID virus that’s been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus.
It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system.
People are “likely” to need a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine within 12 months of getting the first two, Pfizer’s chief executive has said.
Dr Albert Bourla said a booster jab could be necessary “somewhere between six and 12 months” after the second one – and every year thereafter.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, April 16
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,919 cases (up 43)
41,028 in Lincolnshire (up 32)
9,275 in North Lincolnshire (up eight)
8,616 in North East Lincolnshire (up three)
2,185 deaths (up three)
1,613 from Lincolnshire (up three)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,383,732 UK cases, 127,225 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
Plans to demolish part of a former play centre and Chinese takeaway to build 41 new student flats, have been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council.
Killingbeck PLG has applied for permission to demolish “most” of the existing facade of the former home of Imagination Station and Big Wok, on Beaumont Fee, and rebuild it as part of the development.
The main hall, a warehouse and a recently built “link block” to the rear of the building will also be demolished, and will be completely replaced with a new extension.
In documents to the council, the applicant describes how the 41”study bedrooms” will be en-suite and open off a central circulation area.
The build will form part of the Iconinc post-graduate residential units development next door and will sit opposite the Park Court student accommodation on Park Street.
It will include 12 apartments on the ground floor, 11 at first and second floor and seven units on the third floor.
How the build could look.
The application said: “There is a clear need for good quality, post-graduate, city centre, residential accommodation and the economic case for the redevelopment of the site is reinforced by the fact the site can be linked with the new Iconic development so amenities can be shared.
“The demolition of the existing property and the proposed redevelopment will bring positive benefits to the area economically and aesthetically.”
As part of the build, residents will gain shared access to existing facilities including the gym.
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