Reflections 2013: Reshaping Lincoln through education

The vice chairman of South Kesteven District Council has been suspended by the Conservative Party after making a racist remark at a public meeting.

While chairing a governance and audit committee on Wednesday, Councillor Ian Stokes used the n-word in response to another member’s comments.

He said: “Well that’s put a little n****r in the woodpile so to speak.”

The comment sparked complaints from a number of councillors along with external organisations and social media users, with Councillor Stokes reportedly apologising after the meeting.

However, this morning Conservative Council leader Kelham Cooke said in a statement: “As a Conservative group and as a district council we take any form of racism incredibly seriously, especially when remarks are made that could cause serious offence.

“As a Conservative administration we consider the use of this type of language by any member completely unacceptable. It is right that Councillor Ian Stokes has formally apologised and withdrawn the remark he made at the committee meeting.

“Councillor Stokes has been suspended from the Conservative group of South Kesteven District Council pending an investigation by the Conservative Party and the results of any investigation to be undertaken by the monitoring officer of South Kesteven District Council.”

A South Kesteven District Council spokesman said an official complaint had not yet been made at the time of inquiry, however, the monitoring officer for South Kesteven District Council, Alan Robinson, was present at the meeting and spoke to Councillor Stokes about the language he had used.

Mr Robinson said: “I am pleased that Councillor Stokes has issued an unreserved apology. If a formal complaint is made I will, as monitoring officer, consider the most appropriate course of action in line with our councillor code of conduct.”

Independent Councillor Ashley Baxter was one of those present.

He said: “It’s the right decision and I hope it means he will also be suspended from the responsibility of chairman of the governance and audit committee.

“The meeting was chaotic anyway yesterday and this was really the lowest point.

“He has done the right thing by apologising, I hope he means it and he will take up any training that he’s offered.”

As vice chairman, Councillor Stokes would have been in line to take on the mantle of chairmanship and wear the ceremonial garb next year, however, Councillor Baxter felt it would not be appropriate for that to go ahead.

Another member unhappy with Councillor Stokes taking on that role was Liberal Democrat Councillor Amanda Wheeler, who last year successfully pushed for diversity training to be offered to all councillors.

“It’s a figure-head for our council and I find it unacceptable to use that language. I really feel uncomfortable with that,” she said.

Councillor Wheeler, who was not present at the meeting, said she had been “angry and shocked” that Councillor Stokes had used that language, adding her first reaction had been “disbelief” over the reports and that she had to watch the meeting back herself.

However, she added: “There were plenty of people in that room who must have heard those words and nobody said anything.”

Councillor Wheeler is now calling for the training to be mandatory, particularly for senior councillors, as she feels not enough took up the option.

Councillor Stokes has been contacted for comment.

With Greater Lincolnshire recording its highest number of Coronavirus cases on Wednesday and government pushing hard for booster jabs, here’s everything you need to know about where to get yours.

There were nearly a thousand new COVID cases recorded in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, the highest daily tally so far — as Sajid Javid announced cases could reach 100,000 a day nationally.

The government has previously admitted winter will be “challenging” and health advisers have warned of “waning immunity” from vaccinations.

Booster vaccines are being pushed in order to improve the protection of those most at risk from COVID-19 and health bosses say it will give longer-term protection against serious illness from the virus.

So, who’s eligible for the vaccine?

To get a third dose of the vaccine you must have had your second jab at least six months ago.

The most vulnerable groups being targeted include:

• people aged 50 and over
• people who live and work in care homes
• frontline health and social care workers
• people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill
• people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk
• people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections including HIV-positive people, transplant patients or those having treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
• People who are pregnant and in 1 of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

How to get your COVID-19 booster vaccine

Eligible patients will be contacted by the NHS when it’s their turn. It is best somewhere between six to nine months since your second jab.

The NHS is asking people not to contact them, though frontline or social care workers can book an appointment online and will usually get it through their employer.

Where will the vaccine be offered?

Most vaccines will be given at:

• Lincolnshire Showground
• Boston’s Princess Royal Sports Arena
• A local pharmacy
• A GP Surgery

Which COVID-19 vaccine will you get?

Most people will be offered Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or Moderna vaccine, but some may be offered Oxford/Astrazeneca if the others are not available

The booster dose may be different from the vaccines received for first and second doses.

Where to book your vaccine?

Click here.

It’s almost time for spooky season, and Lincolnshire is getting in the Halloween spirit with plenty of activities to either frighten or excite you.

From pumpkin trails to haunted tours and a chainsaw massacre takeover, there’s something to everyone, young and old, to enjoy in the county this Halloween.

The Lincolnite has already listed some of the best places you can go to pick pumpkins (see the list here), and there’s so many more events to look out for.

These are just a few of the many events planned in Lincolnshire for the Halloween season, and if you are aware of any more that should be mentioned, get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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Lincoln BIG Ghost Bus Tour

Lincoln Business Improvement Group will be offering bus tours with a spooky twist to get people into the Halloween spirit.

The sightseeing bus tour will be hosted by local ghost expert Karen Crow, who will guide you through Lincoln and tell tales of the city’s haunted past.

Tours are planned on Saturday, October 23 and Saturday, October 30, both starting at 6pm from outside Lincoln Cathedral, heading towards the castle walls and spanning across many landmarks in the city.

Tickets cost £8.50 and can be purchased from the Lincoln BIG website. It is suitable for all ages and seats will be allocated first come, first served.

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Lincoln Pumpkin Trail

Back by popular demand, Visit Lincoln’s Pumpkin Trail has returned to the uphill section of the city, with numerous pumpkins hidden in shop windows along the Bailgate and Steep Hill area.

The trail runs from Saturday, October 17 to Sunday, October 31, with a series of quiz questions to answer and facts to learn at each stop of the trail, as well as locating the pumpkins, of course.

It is totally free to take part, with a free map available to pick up from the Visitor Information Centre. There will be certificates and stickers available for everyone who gives it a try, and a prize draw for anyone who successfully completes the trail.

To enter the prize draw, completed quiz sheets need to be posted into the Visitor Information Centre or submitted online at the Visit Lincoln website by November 8.

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Day of the Dead Parade

Another popular event making a return to Lincoln is the Day of the Dead Parade, which invites people to embrace the colour and carnival attitude of celebrating Halloween.

The parade is led by a giant seven-foot skeleton that is walked through the city between 1-2pm and 3-4pm on Sunday, October 31 to round off the event.

You can create your own parade mask and paper flowers, as well as visiting the crafts stalls and listening to haunted stories during the weekend.

If skull musicians and playful Halloween characters sound like fun, then this free to visit parade is perfect for you.

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Pecan’s Pumpkin Patch at Bransby Horses

Bransby Horses, located just a few miles outside of Lincoln, will have a Halloween theme throughout the spooky season, and has brought back its Pecan’s Pumpkin Patch for this year.

Pumpkins cost just £2.50 and you can pick yours from 10am to 4pm, seven days a week, from October 8 to October 31, with free entry and parking throughout half term.

Picking pumpkins and getting to see some of the beautiful horses they have at Bransby, what’s not to love?

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Chainsaw Massacre Takeover at Axed & Escape

Not one for the faint hearted, Axed Lincoln and Escape Lincoln have teamed up to host the Chainsaw Massacre Takeover – the only event of its kind in the city this year.

Exclusive sessions are available in Escape Lincoln’s special Chainsaw Massacre escape room, known as the scariest room in the region, and you might not be alone in there.

As for Axed Lincoln, they will host themed axe throwing lanes along with Halloween games and limited edition drinks.

The event is not recommended for under-18s, and will run from Friday, October 29 to Sunday, October 31, costing £100 for up to six axe throwers at Axed, and £100 for five players at the themed room at Escape Lincoln. Book from Escape Lincoln’s website and Axed Lincoln’s website respectively.

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Fear Island at Fantasy Island theme park

Fantasy Island will bring its theme park thrills into the spookiness of October with a month-long makeover called Fear Island.

Fear Island will have four brand new interactive scare mazes, running from October 9 until October 31.

The scariest of the lot will be Hellhole, which is lit only by a glowstick as visitors rummage through a dark netherworld trying to avoid a lost band of flesh eating WW2 soldiers.

There will also be a firework display at Island Beach on Saturday, October 30 after sunset, to add some colour to the Halloween season.

For more information on Fear Island, visit the Fantasy Island website.

Spooky Maize Maze

Uncle Henry’s Farm Shop, Butchery and Cafe in Gainsborough will play host to a number of Halloween events, not least converting the famous Maize Maze into a spooktacular experience.

The maze will have nine Halloween characters scattered around for you to find before it gets dark. Boots or wellies are advised for the maze.

As well as this, Uncle Henry’s will offer its own pumpkin patch and a game of Ghastly Golf – navigate your way through the nine-hole mini golf course with a twist.

It is open from 9.30am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sundays, with last entry to the maze coming an hour before the area closes. The Spooky Maize Maze runs from October 23 to October 31.

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Dobbies’ Halloween Spooktacular

Dobbies Garden Centre in Boston will also be getting in on the action this year, hosting a Halloween event for the whole family between Thursday, October 21 and Sunday, October 31.

For the children, there will be a fancy dress competition, games and music, as well as the opportunity for trick or treating, while adults can sit back with some delicious afternoon tea.

Tickets cost £8.99 for children and £6.50 for adults, and can be purchased from the Dobbies website.

A landlord in Scunthorpe has been fined £100 after ignoring two warnings to clean up a rubbish-filled garden.

A Community Protection Warning was served on the empty house on Smith Street in Scunthorpe last year. This was followed by a Community Protection Notice.

The landlord cleared up the property, but did not check up on it as regularly as the notice, served under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, required.

The house was monitored by North Lincolnshire Council enforcement officers and a fixed penalty notice of £100 was issued, which has since been paid. The rubbish is now being cleared.

The council said: “North Lincolnshire Council has a zero-tolerance policy towards rubbish and enforcement officers have a wide range of powers, including fines for anyone caught dropping litter, fly-tipping, not disposing of rubbish properly or paying un-registered operators to take it away.

“Anyone witnessing littering or fly-tipping is urged to take photos or video footage and upload them to the portal on the council website, where the evidence will be used to pursue those responsible.”