The City of Lincoln Council decided to alter the one-way system of the Lincoln Christmas Market this year by allowing two-way traffic, where it is safe to do so, particularly on Steep Hill.
Business owners in uphill Lincoln have urged the council to alter the new one-way system arguing it’s causing a loss in trade.
However, the one way system will remain in place throughout the market period and will be enforced during busy times to ensure public safety.
Kate Ellis, City of Lincoln Council’s Assistant Director for Planning and Regeneration, said:
“Having spoken to traders and observed the situation on the first day of the market we have taken the decision that during very quiet periods, when it is safe to do so, we will be allowing people to move freely through the market.
“However the majority of our visitors are continuing to use the one way system and our stewards and staff will be encouraging people to use the route.
“If we are observing increased numbers, or are aware we have an influx from park and ride, trains or coaches, then the one-way system will be strictly enforced.
“For example at midday today (Friday) two charter trains arrived with 1,000 people on board so we decided it was in the best interest of public safety to have the one way system in place.
“We have listened to the concerns of traders on Steep Hill and hope this decision to relax the one-way system during quieter periods will address some of their concerns.”
Attracting shoppers
As previously reported, traders on Steep Hill and Bailgate were worried that the new system would mean visitors would only be able to access them travelling one way, or have to reroute all the way around the market to get back.
On the first day of the market traders placed signs in windows to remind people that there was a new system in place, so they would be unable to revisit the shop easily.
Some traders were seen stood outside encouraging visitors to take a look inside. Despite this, some shops reported a 70% loss in comparison to the same market day last year.
Businesses on Steep Hill decided that they would shut shop shortly after the Mayor of Lincoln officially opened the market at 6.30pm, instead of staying open for the length of the Market as in previous years.
Anna Bowman of Annushka Russian Dolls said: “Customers are coming in, looking around saying that they will pick up something on their way back down, but then the stewards won’t let them come back this way.
“Sales are about two thirds down on the same time last year, but luckily we still have our online business to keep us busy. For those who just rely on passing trade it must be a real worry.”
Some traders have looked at legal action against the organisers, feeling that they have been unfairly penalised.
A spokesperson for McKinnells Solicitors said: “The council has a duty of care to ensure that all businesses are treated fairly.
“If the one-way system impedes the footfall to certain shops, whilst easing the flow of traffic to others then the shops that lose out could, individually or collectively, brings a case against the council for damages and loss of earnings.”
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Lockdown restrictions will be partially lifted for Christmas, allowing up to three households to meet in an ‘exclusive bubble’.
The plans are yet to be officially confirmed by government, however, according to major outlets including BBC News and Sky News, it will mean that in the five day period between December 23-27:
Three households will be able to form an exclusive “bubble” and meet indoors
Travel restrictions will be also be lifted
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Tuesday afternoon chaired a meeting with the first ministers of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to agree the plans.
It is understood there will be some minor changes to the initial plans for each of the nations.
Travel restrictions are also set to be lifted during the same period and some overnight stays will be allowed.
In a briefing on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “I can’t say that Christmas will be normal this year, but in a period of adversity, time spent with loved ones is even more precious for people of all faiths and we all want some kind of Christmas — we need it.
“But what we don’t want is to throw caution to the winds and allow the virus to flare up again, forcing us all back into lockdown in January.
“This virus is not going to grant a Christmas truce. It doesn’t know Christmas and families will need to make a careful judgement about the risks.”
There have been 209 new coronavirus cases and 24 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 118 new cases in Lincolnshire, 51 in North Lincolnshire and 40 in North East Lincolnshire.
It also registered 16 deaths in Lincolnshire, four in North Lincolnshire and four in North East Lincolnshire.
These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported nine local hospital deaths on Tuesday. Five were at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and four were at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. This takes the total number of hospital deaths in the county to 477.
On Tuesday, national cases increased by 11,299 to 1,538,794, while deaths rose by 608 to 55,838.
Lincolnshire COVID-19 deaths up to November 24.
Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus cases at the University of Lincoln has more than halved this week. It currently has 61 coronavirus cases — 58 students and three staff.
The man in charge of care homes in Lincolnshire said extra precautions are still needed for visitors, besides twice-weekly rapid testing, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined in his winter plan on Monday.
In national news, new figures show weekly COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales are at the highest level since May.
The transport secretary announced that international visitors will be able to reduce their quarantine time by more than half from December 15, provided they purchase a COVID-19 test after five days.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire for Tuesday, November 24
24,047 cases (up 209)
14,783 in Lincolnshire (up 118)
4,412 in North Lincolnshire (up 51)
4,852 in North East Lincolnshire (up 40)
745 deaths (up 24)
485 from Lincolnshire (up 16)
133 from North Lincolnshire (up four)
127 from North East Lincolnshire (up four)
of which 477 hospital deaths (up nine)
251 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up five)
9 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
216 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up four)
1,538,794 UK cases, 55,838 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.
Boston and East Lindsey are “highly likely” to be put under the toughest restrictions when lockdown ends, MP Matt Warman said.
Mr Warman said he had spoken to public health minister Jo Churchill about the two districts’ coronavirus infection rates on Tuesday night.
As of November 23, East Lindsey was the area with the third highest infection rates across the whole of the UK, with 515.8 against an England average of 239.9. Boston was 21st with 428.9.
Lincoln was also in the top 50 with 379.7.
In a post on Facebook, Mr Warman said: “We are the highest […] and a cause of real concern for the minister.
“I’m hugely grateful for her personal attention, but the reality is that the area is highly likely to be put into tier three when the nationwide lockdown ends.”
The highest tiers’ rules include a total closure of hospitality venues except for takeaways, a limit to just one household indoors, and care homes closed to visitors.
Tier three areas may also be subject to a new mass testing pilot for six weeks.
The restrictions for tier 3 – very high – lockdown.
Mr Warman said the reasons for the high infection rates included more widespread community transmission, a number of care home and factory outbreaks, and a lack of adherence to the rules.
He urged residents to follow the rules “so that we can get through to a sensible Christmas and ultimately towards a vaccine”.
Health bosses both nationally and locally won’t know officially where regions will land until the announcement is made on Thursday.
It is unclear if Lincolnshire will be tiered as a county under the new rules, or as separate districts.
Lincolnshire was in the lowest tier and managed to escape moving into level two just days before the national restrictions kicked in.
North and North East Lincolnshire were in tier two and were quickly edging up towards tier three.
The two northern unitaries had infection rates of 448.1 each on Monday.
Geordie comedian Sarah Millican will perform at four Lincolnshire venues next year as part of her new UK tour Bobby Dazzler.
Sarah, who is married to fellow comedian Gary Delaney and has appeared on various TV panel shows, will visit Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Skegness between July and October 2021.
Tickets will be available for general sale from 10am on Friday, November 27 – see more details here.
However, anyone on Sarah’s mailing list will have access to book at 10am on Wednesday, November 26. The first 5,000 tickets that get sold to mailing list members will have no booking fee.
Tickets are priced at £27.50 before any venue charges. The booking fee will only be £1.50 per ticket.
Lincolnshire shows
The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe – July 16 and 17
Grimsby Auditorium – August 21
Embassy Theatre, Skegness – September 1
The Engine Shed, Lincoln – October 27 and 31
As well as the UK and Ireland leg of the tour, Sarah is working on booking some international dates in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America.
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