An England-wide community programme will see the Birchwood area in Lincoln receive an investment of around £1 million over the next ten years.
The Big Local initiative identified Birchwood among 50 areas to benefit from funding, which will be delivered by Local Trust, a new organisation managing the £200 million endowment given by the Big Lottery Fund.
Local Trust will also set out their plan to work with residents in each area to decide how best to use the funding.
Big Local allows each area at least ten years to spend their £1 million investment.
Local areas will have to use a combination of grants and social investments such as loans and micro-finance to transform their community.
Big Local is a long-term programme to achieve lasting change in 150 small areas across England. The first 50 areas were announced in July 2010.
The new funding comes as YouGov figures published reveal that only 14% of English adults feel that that those traditionally responsible for decision-making in local areas – including local councils (10%), government (1%) or local MPs (3%) – know best about what is needed to make their community a better place to live.
The Big Lottery Fund-commissioned survey shows that the majority of people – 74% – think local people and community groups (local people (55%) charities and community groups (8%) or residents associations (11%)) know best.
A further 50 communities will be awarded funding through the scheme this year.
Areas can use the funds to provide a mixture of grants, social investments and support. Using social investment means that some of the money can be reused in the area again and again.
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said, “This investment in Birchwood in Lincoln – some £1 million over the next ten years – is truly magnificent.
“The money will greatly enhance the hard work of our local ward councillors, Cllrs John Metcalfe, Jane Clark and Eddie Strengiel, to help ensure that the Birchwood area is an even better place to live, now and in the future,” he added.
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.
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