Lincoln finally gets A1 brown signs

Almost 20,000 fines and penalty points will be cancelled due to an error with temporary speed restrictions during roadworks on the A1 at Grantham.

The Lincolnite can reveal 19,089 offences between February 16, 2021 and July 10, 2021 will be scrubbed off the record due to a fault with the speed camera system and temporary 50mph limit.

Lincolnshire Police said the £100 speeding fines (totalling almost £2 million) are in the process of being refunded, and/or penalty points cancelled.

The force is working with National Highways to identify and directly contact motorists who have been affected.

National Highways blamed the issue on “a discrepancy relating to the temporary traffic order” during Lincolnshire County Council’s project to build a new junction at Grantham.

They did not respond to questions over how the error came about by the time of publishing.

It relates to two static speed cameras, one northbound and one southbound on the A1 at Grantham.

While Lincolnshire Police could not provide a total number of fines issued during the period of error, the force said of those whose Notice of Intended Prosecutions are in the process of being cancelled, 18,387 were between 50 and 70mph and 702 were above 70mph.

One driver contacted The Lincolnite when they received a letter from Lincolnshire Police.

They said: “As much as I am relieved to avoid the likely three-point fixed penalty and £100 fine, I think it’s a matter of public interest that other motorists have likely been prosecuted and/or fined for something with no legal basis.”

National Highways head of service delivery, Adrian Oulds said: “Safety is a top priority for National Highways. A temporary speed limit is in place on the carriageway to keep the A1 safe – for both drivers and the construction team – while work takes place.

“There was a discrepancy relating to the temporary traffic order, which means some of the enforcement was invalid and we are working with Lincolnshire Police to resolve this issue.

“However, we encourage all drivers to observe temporary speed limits through roadworks for their own safety.”

Lincolnshire Police Chief Superintendent Paul Timmins said: “We have been made aware by National Highways of a discrepancy relating to a temporary traffic order on the A1 which has meant that some enforcement was invalid regarding the temporary speed restriction.

“National Highways are the lead agency on this matter and are working through the details relating to the exact circumstances.

“We are working with National Highways and other partners to identify and directly contact motorists who might have been affected and will take action accordingly.

“This includes the possibility of refunding fines and/or cancelling penalty points that were awarded during the material time of February 16 and July 10 this year.

“The situation has been rectified and the temporary speed limit is enforceable and so I would urge all drivers to be aware and drive within the speed limit for your safety and that of other road users and the construction workers.”

The family of a much-loved biker who died in a crash on the A46 near Lincoln are urging as many bikers as possible to join his funeral procession later this month.

Damian ‘Damo’ Buckle, 36, died after his motorbike was involved in a collision with a van on the A46, near Dunholme, at around 2.50pm on Friday, August 13.

Damo’s sister Lisa Mellor contacted The Lincolnite to help get as many bikers as possible for his final ride. She said the meeting place will be Ruston Sports & Social Club at 9.40am on Wednesday, September 22, with a procession of bikers following to Lincoln Crematorium.

Damian loved his motorbike and Guy Martin was his idol. | Photo: Submitted by family

Lisa said: “Damian was a well loved brother, son, dad and friends to so many. Damian had a heart of gold and helped a lot of people.

“He raised money for mental health charities and others. He loved his bike and ‘Willy’ [Willingham] Woods deeply and doted on his two boys.

“He has left such a big gap in our family and will be forever missed. Our hearts are broken.”

Damian with his mum Julie. | Photo: Submitted by family

Damian (centre) with his family – Claire Buckle (sister), Julie Mellor (mum), Lisa Mellor (sister), Sarah Buckle (sister). | Photo: Submitted

Friends, including fellow Lincoln strongman Dave Johnson, and Damo’s family previously paid tribute to the 36-year-old.

Damo’s long-term partner Kim Knott, who he shared one-year-old Theo-James with, described him as “the happiest, most laid-back guy you could ever wish to meet”. Damian also leaves a ten-year-old son, his mother, step dad and three sisters.

Kim said: “He was the happiest, most laid-back guy you could ever wish to meet, and would do anything for anyone who needed it. He helped a man he’d never met push his bike all the way to a garage once when he saw him with a puncture.

“When we met, he made me realise that there was more to me and my life than I was living, and changed me into the person I am today. He gave advice and talked to you. That was just the kind of person he was.”

Damian was popular among his biker friends. | Photo: Submitted

A static car/bike meet was held in Damo’s honour during the evening Saturday, August 21. A large group of people gathered for the memorial, but the event was tarnished by cars crashing into spectators. Four people are understood to still be fighting for their lives, including a man who was in an induced coma and has since been moved to the high dependency unit.

Banners have gone up at Lincoln’s South Common to remind people not to feed the horses after recent incidents of the animals dying from passers-by giving them food.

There are around eight or nine horses left on the South Common in Lincoln, and Charlotte Houlden, owner of one of the animals, has said that feeding of the horses is a “daily occurrence” despite regular warnings of its dangers.

To try to combat this issue, local resident Wendy Miller wanted to put banners up on the railings to remind everyone that they should not be feeding the horses.

The sign is in both English and Polish, as the message reads clear. | Photo: Wendy Miller

The banners were made by Kate Baldwin of Impress Prints & Branding, who offered to create them free of charge after the spate of horse deaths.

They read “please do not feed the horses” in both English and Polish, accompanied with pictures of some of the foods that are not suitable for the horses to be given.

Owners are hoping it will help keep the horses safe from foods that are toxic to them. | Photo: Wendy Miller

Pictures of cake, bread, apples and carrots are on the banner after reports of a horse called Vera being given these foods when she died on August 1 this year.

Horse deaths on the South Common were seen as a growing threat by owners of the animals, which prompted the banners to be put up.

Signage had previously been put up in the area warning people against feeding the horses, but had since been taken down.

Horse owners are urging people not to feed their animals on the South Common in Lincoln. | Photo: Charlotte Houlden

Wendy Miller, who helped organise the placing of the new banners, told The Lincolnite: “Ever since that horse sadly died on South Common as a result of being fed cakes, we wanted to fundraise to have banners printed.

“They are there to warn people of the dangers of feeding horses, and thankfully Kate Baldwin offered to do it free of charge! Hopefully it can spread awareness.”

A young woman killed in a crash on the Lincoln Eastern Bypass has been named as Rosemary Earle from Cranwell Village, near Sleaford.

The inquest hearing at Lincolnshire Coroners’ Court heard how Rosemary, 28, died from a head injury, pending further tests, after a crash involving her car and a van, between the Branston and Bracebridge Heath roundabouts at about 4.30am on September 3.

Lincolnshire Police say the investigation into the circumstances of the crash is still ongoing, and they have not made any arrests.

If you have any information that may help police, call 101 or email [email protected] using incident 43 of September 3 as a reference.

The inquest was adjourned until March 3, 2022