Owen Paterson, the DEFRA Secretary (centre) visiting Lincoln Cathedral. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
“Come and visit!” are the three words Owen Paterson, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, used to describe Lincoln after a visit in the city on Monday, March 31.
The Shropshire MP toured Lincoln Cathedral, admiring the interior and inspecting the ongoing renovation work at the city landmark.
Owen Paterson, the DEFRA Secretary (centre) visiting the Lincoln Cathedral stonemasonry workshop. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Owen Paterson said: “We’ve had an absolutely fascinating walk, because I’ve been here before, but I’ve never had the privilege of having the big doors opened and seeing the whole nave.
“Then going on to the stonemasons’ yard and talking to the head mason, seeing the incredible care and detail going into not just recreating some of the old and sadly faded and decayed images, but creating new ones in medieval tradition, is quite tremendous.”
The visit comes after the Chancellor announced in the 2014 Budget that £20 million will be made available for cathedral repairs across the country.
“That is not my responsibility, but there was significant money, £20 million put in the Budget, towards restoring our historic cathedrals; there are few candidates with quite a strong case as Lincoln, so I wish Lincoln the very best of luck,” Owen Paterson said.
The DEFRA Secretary was invited by Lincoln MP Karl McCartney, who added: “It’s a phenomenal amount of money: £1.5 million every year is needed just for the fabric of the cathedral to keep it in a good useable state, and the budget for the cathedral is £4.5 million per year.
“There is a pot that’s been made available by the Chancellor in the last Budget and I’ve already written to the Chancellor and various ministers asking what the process is.
“The Dean and I spoke just after the Budget and in the weeks after, because I’m going to make sure and do my best to help the cathedral access those funds.”
Clear guidance on building on floodplains
The Western Growth Corridor between Boultham and Birchwood is a 320-hectare site — around 10% of Lincoln’s size.
He commented on plans from the City of Lincoln Council, which intends to build up to 3,000 new homes on the Western Growth Corridor between Boultham and Birchwood, a 320-hectare site — around 10% of the city.
The area has been considered for development before in 2006, but concerns over flooding have stopped it progressing further.
But the City Council is moving ahead with the plans after coming up with measures to address some of the flood risk concerns.
Owen Paterson in Lincoln on March 31, 2014. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Owen Paterson said: “I came to talk to the Internal Drainage Boards, the County Council, and it’s very interesting that I’m trying to set up something similar in Somerset, but you beat me to it here, and it does seem to work very well.
“Of all these organisations working with the Environment Agency partnership, right at the end they did mention this particular development and I always adhere very strictly to the view that planning should remain in council’s hands.
“There is a clear preference and a very clear steer in our national planning guidance that we should not be building things on floodplains if it’s not appropriate, so I’d leave that entirely down to the local councillors to make that decision.
“I’m not an expert on this, it literally came right at the end of our meeting talking about management of floods generally, and how we can look at future defences on the sea, which is enormously important for Lincolnshire, if you think of the horrific loss of life back in 1953.
“So, I’m not an expert in this particular application, but I would just point out that there’s a very clear steer in our national guidance on planning not to build on floodplains. It’s a matter for local councillors.”
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney added: “This is obviously a very important issue. We more than touched on the Swanpool – Western Growth Corridor development.
“[Owen Paterson] made it very clear what the government guidelines are, that you should look at not developing housing on a floodplain.
“Whilst many of us have got various issues with the previous planning application, the one that’s being mooted at the moment I don’t think has been properly thought out.
“I am not against development in our community, but I think it has to be the right type of development, and some times, some people are perhaps a little bit too set in their ways.”
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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.
Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
Bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.
The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”
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