Interior fire damage at the Croft Street community centre in Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Despite a blaze completely destroying the main hall of a well-used community centre in Lincoln on September 22, centre managers have vowed to keep it running.
As previously reported, a fire started at Croft Street Community Centre around 6.44am on Sunday morning, though despite firefighters’ best efforts, most of the community hall was ruined.
Police suspect the incident was due to arson.
A few of the other rooms were saved from the fire, however most cannot be accessed either due to smoke damage or the door handles melting away.
On Monday, centre manager Caroline Boltz and caretaker Phil Spendlow set up an “office” outside — a table, armed with a diary and a kettle — with the task of organising the 20 community groups and parties that use the hall.
The pair have been at the centre since Caroline was alerted to the fire by the alarm.
“I was in my nightie and my slippers, and I jumped into the car,” Caroline said, “because I just thought ‘oh well it’ll be alright, I’ll just go turn off the alarm’.
“As I pulled over the fire engine was just coming down to the centre. I just couldn’t believe it.
“Poor Philip, who was standing there, I gave him a jolly good thump! I wasn’t very happy yesterday morning.
“But I soon picked myself up and got organised.”
Offers of help
Smoke damage from the fire at the Croft Street community centre in Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As well as clearing the items from the hall and surrounding rooms, Caroline’s main task was to help the various booked parties and community groups find somewhere else to go.
Fortunately, a number of Lincoln community halls, churches and other organisations are coming forward to help.
“We don’t have any electricity and we cannot get into the office, because it’s all been secured, so rather than do nothing I am keeping calm and carrying on!
“I am working with what I can possibly use — my diary and two phones — so I can sort out all the people who have offered places and people that need places.
“We’ve had various offers of help; about 10 places before 9am today, and the offers are still coming in!
“Some community groups have been housed, it’s just the parties we don’t have any places for.
“Now we’re moving all the boxes out because we’ve found somewhere for the items to go. Some items couldn’t go to St Swithins’ Church because it’s too cold.”
Caroline and her volunteers are also happy for residents and businesses to come forward to help, but offers a bit of advice before heading down:
“Wait until tomorrow, because we’re now waiting for the insurance assessor and it’s just not safe,” she said.
Total damage
Showing The Lincolnite around the building, Caroline explained the worst damaged parts.
Fire damage at the Croft Street community centre in Lincoln. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The worst affected area is the community hall, with many of the smaller rooms, such as toilets, offices and meeting rooms, protected from serious damage.
“The hall is the worst part, but the fire doors did their job, as did the fire wall.
Despite all the damage, after the damage has been assessed and community groups organised, the volunteers are keen to get started again.
“Oh yes, we’re coming back! The smaller groups, once we get the power back and the doors unsealed, we hope to put in the meeting rooms. For now though, we’ll accommodate all we can in St Swithin’s Church.”
Suspected arson
Lincolnshire Police are treating the fire as suspected arson and have been carrying out investigations at the scene since Sunday.
The local neighbourhood policing team are stepping up foot patrols in the area.
Meanwhile, they are appealing for anyone who was in the area at the time, or who has any information about the incident to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 105 of September 22.
Alternatively, anyone with information can call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Still going ahead
The Croft Street Community Centre was due to hold a coffee morning on Tuesday, September 24, and it is going ahead with the event in their car park.
The local policing team will be present at the coffee morning to answer any questions from the public and anyone is welcome to attend and lend their support.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A trial hearing has been set for the seven people charged with the murder of Sam Davies in Lincoln.
Sam, 23, died after being found with multiple stab wounds at a property in Coleridge Gardens on Thursday, May 27.
Three men were initially arrested and charged with his murder, and they were then joined in custody by four others.
All seven men appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Friday, June 18, and a Crown Court hearing date has now been set.
The seven men charged with Sam’s murder are:
Joe Jameson, 23, of Whitehall Terrace, Lincoln
Daniel Heydari, 24, of Chestnut Street, Lincoln
Eric Kesel, 18, of Browning Drive, Lincoln
Eimantis Gochman, 19, of Sturton Close, Lincoln
Charlie Wakefield, 20, of Broxholme Gardens, Lincoln
Billy Gill, 20, of Beaufort Close, Lincoln
A 17-year-old Lincoln male who cannot be named for legal reasons
All seven will appear before Lincoln Crown Court on June 28 ahead of the trial of the murder of Sam Davies, and have been remanded in custody until that date.
A petition has been launched to fully re-open the toilets on Lincoln’s Westgate car park after council leaders announced they would only be opening the facilities for events.
The City of Lincoln Council’s executive will examine the plans later this month, which will also see the Victorian urinals at The Lawn on Union Road and Newport Arch closed permanently, and facilities at Lucy Tower opened for special events only in a bid to save £86,000 per year.
However, Fiona Purkiss of Midas Art in the Bailgate, along with other business owners, said the Westgate facilities need to be open and accessible to all on a daily basis.
Fiona said it was good that the disabled facilities would remain accessible, but that the walk to the Castle Square facilities — the closest public toilets to remain open — was too far for some of those without radar keys.
According to Google Maps, the distance between the two facilities is 450-550m depending on whether users go via the castle or the Bailgate.
A screenshot of Google Maps showing two routes people could take from the Westgate toilets to Castle Square. | Image: Google
She said that since the toilets closed at the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown, she had already seen people caught short, having to take drastic action or have an accident.
“I have had people come into the shop a bit anxious about needing the toilet. I would not say “no” [to them using my toilet] but it’s not actually suitable for the general public,” she said, adding she also had security concerns due to her own loo being accessed through a stockroom.
“I witnessed three men stood there. They got out of their car, tried the door and shouted back before weeing up against the wall.
“It’s been going for some time, we have had some very embarrassed, middle-aged women arrive who would not make it to Castle Square. They have been forced to wee in a carrier bag or a tissue box they kept in their side door.”
“It’s mortifying for them,” she said.
Fiona Purkiss, of Midas Arts. Photo: Daniel Jaines
She said a suggestion that people use the toilets of pubs and restaurants could leave people feeling uncomfortable if they did not wish to purchase anything while there – particularly during lockdown when patrons are required to queue during busy times, and must have tables pre-booked.
She added that a lack of facilities could put visitors off coming to the city and that it was disruptive to delivery drivers, taxi drivers and others, including parents waiting to pick their children up from Westgate Academy.
The council, however, feels its proposals have been misrepresented by opponents.
It has denied the toilets will be closed permanently – but says that they have been “mothballed”.
Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The city council welcomes petitions and recognises they are a good way for people to convey their concerns to us.
“However, it is essential that people who are considering signing any petition are presented with the full and correct facts so they can make a judgement on whether to sign or not.
“Following consultation with the public, we are proposing to keep open the disabled toilet and allow the main facilities to be available during events such as Lincoln Christmas Market.
“At other times, alternative facilities are available on Castle Square, a short five minute walk away.”
“We have also never suggested that people use toilets in cafes and bars to supplement our provision, we have merely highlighted that paying customers have these facilities at their disposal and should use them if needed.
He said the proposals would also keep the toilets open at Tentercroft St and the bus station.
“Add to this the upcoming refurbishment of toilets at the Central Market and we feel there is a significant spread of facilities across the city, uphill and in the city centre, to serve the needs of shoppers and tourists alike.”
“Good food doesn’t have to be dull.” That’s what Ben Jennings at Twisted Street Food told The Lincolnite when we went to try out his now famous potato skewers, as well as a brand new item on the menu.
Ben Jennings, 48, is originally from London but has lived in Lincoln for 13 years, and he has worked in and out of the hospitality sector for almost a decade.
Twisted Street Food was an idea he had around two years ago, and after COVID-19 postponed the launch, he is now up and running selling street food delights in the city since October 2020.
Ben is meticulous with his food prep. | Photo: The Lincolnite
“I just love food, I am so passionate about it and always have been,” Ben told The Lincolnite. “Street food suits me down to the ground, it’s far better than being static in a kitchen.
“For me, the experience is of equal importance to the quality of the food, so it has to be fun as well as tasty.”
Here is where you can find Twisted Street Food, outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite
You can find Twisted Street Food outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, as well as his monthly pop-ups at Lincoln Castle.
Ben’s big hit so far have been his twisted potato skewers, which are twice fried and served with seasoning and sauce.
The potato skewers start off pretty routinely. | Photo: The Lincolnite
He has developed sixteen different seasoned salts and offers them in batches of four to six depending on demand, varying from cajun spice to Spanish onion and Cornish salt.
“This is where the magic happens.” | Photo: The Lincolnite
Ta-da! | Photo: The Lincolnite
The potato becomes twisted with a spiral cutter, before they are fried and dosed with a choice of Twisted’s various spices and sauces.
The skewers are then fried before being seasoned and prepped for serving. | Photo: The Lincolnite
His latest invention is a wonderful chilli dog, based on a 1950s recipe from Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
Ben has added a local twist to this legendary dish, offering Lincolnshire sausages, supplied by local butcher Foster’s on Monks Road, instead of the traditional Bratwurst.
The chilli dog looks mesmerising. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The chilli dog will come with caramelised onion, nine hour slow cooked beef chilli mix, blow torched mature cheddar and then garnished with fresh chillies, spring onion and American mustard.
The gourmet burger is a sight to behold. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Adding this to the menu alongside the already popular skewers and gourmet burger is part of the next step in Ben’s development with Twisted.
With a menu this good, how can you go wrong? | Photo: The Lincolnite
Ben added: “Street food is taking off, and with table service looking to be the route forward it’s cause for me to be excited, everything is just so much more civilised.
“The uptake has been massive since we started, people seem really interested in it, I think above all else the public are just delighted to be back out and about.
The gourmet burger comes with onions, molten cheddar, lettuce, gherkins, onion rings, tomato and a prosciutto crisp. | Photo: The Lincolnite
“As for myself, I’m hoping to be able to reach the festival and events circuits soon enough, as well as doing a few private events and carrying on with the success we’ve had at The Victoria and the castle.”
The twisted potatoes will cost £3.50 with seasoning and sauce, while the gourmet burger and chilli dog cost £8.50 with French fries and sauce.
Great options at Twisted Street Food. | Photo: The Lincolnite
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