Lincoln’s first hosepipe ban in 20 years began after midnight on Thursday, April 5.
The restriction comes as a drought is affecting the region, with rivers across East Anglia extremely low due to insufficient rainfall over the last 18 months.
It’s going to take months of persistent rain, not just a few wet days, to recover from a drought situation like this.
The hosepipe ban is essentially a restriction on using hosepipes for certain purposes, over an undetermined amount of time.
This means you cannot use a hosepipe for watering a garden or domestic plants, playing, filling up paddling pools or ponds without fish, washing cars or windows, or watering recreation fields.
You may use hosepipes for non-domestic swimming pools, drip irrigation systems, certain ponds, business use, and health and safety.
Bans are put in place because many hosepipes can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour — more than a typical household uses in a day.
The average household in the East Anglia uses 145 litres of water a day.
The current state of rivers within the region. Lincolnshire’s rivers are extremely low
Peter Simpson, Managing Director of Anglian Water said: “The fact is that it simply has not rained anywhere near enough.
“Two dry winters have prevented rivers, reservoirs and aquifers from refilling with the water we treat and supply during the rest of the year, especially during the hotter months when demand rises.
“We cannot know how much rain the rest of the year will bring and that’s why we believe a domestic hosepipe ban now is the most sensible and responsible action to take to help safeguard customer supplies for this year, next year and beyond.
“We know some of our customers will find this ban difficult and we are very grateful for their co-operation. The last thing we want to do is impose restrictions but the drought is too serious to ignore.”
People who flout the hosepipe ban could face a £1,000 fine.
Do your bit to help
Anglian Water has set up the Drop 20 Campaign, aiming to get people saving 20 litres of water everyday, lessening the impact of a drought.
If everyone saved 20 litres, the amount of water the company would have to supply would drop by 10%, saving 120 million litres of water per day.
Meanwhile, the company said it will work to tackle any leaks and improve the storage and transportation of water in the region.
8 simple tips to save water
To help save 20 litres of water per day, here are a few simple tips to get you started:
Fix leaking taps — saves 3 litres
Only wash full loads of laundry — saves 10 litres
Wash vegetables in a bowl rather than running a tap — saves 12 litres
Turn off the tap for two minutes when brushing your teeth — saves 12 litres
Wash dishes in the sink — saves 15 litres
Spend two minutes less in the shower — saves 16 litters
Use a bucket and sponge to clean your car instead of a hose — saves 150 litres
Install a water butt to recycle water for your garden — saves 200 litres
While Anglian Water can average out how much water households in the East Midlands use, it can also calculate how much water you use on an average week.
You can take the survey to see your water consumption on the website, and get extra tips on saving more water.
Peter Simpson added: “We believe our customers understand the need for this restriction and will observe it, as well as doing what they can to save water in their daily lives.
“The water saved through the ban, through our own efforts and through the Drop 20 Campaign, will be water that’s available for us in the months to come.
“It will also take some of the pressure off the environment we get our water from – the region’s rivers and wetlands and the wildlife that relies on them.”
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Improvements will be made to the cycle network between Pinchbeck and Spalding after the government awarded a payout of £1.8 million to fund Lincolnshire County Council’s Active Travel Plans.
The money allocated to Lincolnshire will be spent on improving facilities along both the Spalding and Pinchbeck roads, subject to feasibility.
The two communities of Pinchbeck and Spalding will be connected with a safe and direct active travel route while also linking up with the important destinations along Wardentree Lane and Enterprise Way.
This route was identified as a priority for active travel development during the council’s work with stakeholders on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for Spalding.
Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted to see further active travel money coming to Lincolnshire. Active travel is something that can benefit all of our communities and I’m pleased to see the development of a route in the south of our county.
“Having been actively developing this idea for one of our Local Cycling and Walking Plans (LCWIPs) it’s clear to see that the benefits are going to be widely felt. This is a great success in one of our bids to the Department for Transport.
“Lincolnshire has invested in developing a LCWIP for each of our strategy board areas. We believe the LCWIPs will be the key for unlocking more of the active travel funding and we look forward to working with the DfT to develop more ideas from our plans for Lincolnshire.”
The deputy headteacher at a now-closed down special needs school near Grantham is appealing against his convictions for rape and sexual assault.
Lincoln man David Taylor, 71 at the time of conviction, and 86-year-old Raymond Longley, were convicted of several sexual offences at the former Stubton Hall School, spanning over a 20-year period between 1983 and 1995. Taylor was sentenced to a total of 19 years and six months behind bars, while Longley was jailed for four years.
A former pupil who was sexually abused by the deputy headteacher from the age of 10 previously encouraged others to speak up about abuse as a civil lawsuit mounted against Lincolnshire County Council, who owned and ran the school.
Taylor, who worked at the school between 1975 and 1995, was granted permission to appeal against his conviction by a High Court judge on March 29, 2022. The date for the appeal hearing, which will be held in public, has yet to be confirmed.
Solicitor Katherine Yates from Andrew Grove and Company is currently acting for 40 claimants from across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire who are seeking damages from Lincolnshire County Council for the sickening abuse they endured. They recently sent a letter before action to the authority which is the first stage in the civil court proceedings.
Katherine said: “What we are being told is quite horrific and it’s hard to believe that Taylor is appealing his conviction given his despicable crimes and the fact that he fathered a child with one of the girls who he began abusing when she was under 16.
“Although we have started court proceedings against Lincolnshire County Council, we are still taking statements from witnesses and claimants as part of our ongoing investigations, and I’d urge anyone who was physically or sexually abused at Stubton Hall School to contact my firm.
“It doesn’t matter if you have not previously come forward to the police – we are listening, and we can help you seek the compensation you are entitled to. This money can’t erase the past, but it could help you build a better future and can be used to pay for counselling or training, for example.
“All claims are being funded by way of a ‘no win, no fee’ agreement so financial concerns should not prevent anyone from making contact and bringing a claim.”
David Taylor (left) and Raymond Longley (right) were two management level staff members at Stubton Hall School near Grantham. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Clare (not her real name) was seriously sexually abused by Taylor throughout her time at the school for vulnerable children between 1982 and 1987 and is one of the claimants seeking damages in the civil court.
She said: “When I found out from the police about the appeal I broke down in tears. I thought it was all over and I could try and move on with my life. Now I cannot do that. A jury found Taylor guilty and he got what he deserved. I hope the appeal court sees through it.”
Heather Sandy, Lincolnshire County Council executive director for children’s services, previously said: “LCC expresses deep regret over the abuse suffered by the victims in this case.
“We wish to apologise to the victims and are pleased that justice has been done through the convictions in the criminal case.
“We hope that this brings some comfort and closure to the victims. We are unable to comment further regarding potential legal claims.”
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