Disgust at anti-gay leaflets posted through Lincoln doors

Plans for 121 new homes in Bourne have been accused of adding “zero extra” to the town – but councillors could not give a viable reason to refuse it.

South Kesteven District Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead to the proposals from Larkfleet Homes and The Bettinson Trustees for land at Manning Road, on Wednesday.

Objectors to the plans said the proposals were out of keeping with the character of the area, on land designated as employment and raised concerns over traffic on Manning Road.

Bourne Town Councillor Anna Kelly said the site was “beautiful” and that the developers were “really lucky” to get it.

She praised the design process for ensuring the site was going to face the town and “be a real asset”.

However, she called for improvements to a footpath and footbridge to the west of the site to be made more suitable for walkers.

Hannah Guy, planning manager at Larkfleet Homes said it was “absolutely not a problem” to make improve footpaths within the site, but added those outside the boundary were third-party ownership and out of their remit.

Council officers told members the footbridge upgrade was desirable but there were no policies in place to tackle the issue as part of the plans. They added that the county council’s footpath authority had not asked for it to be improved in their response.

“The development is only required to wash its own face and it does do that in your offices assessment,” said legal advisor Martha Rees.

Councillor Robert Reid said he was let down by the lack of improvements to the footbridge, the school drop-off or parking.

“I have absolutely no [policy] reasons for why I am unable to recommend anything other than approval – but this gives absolutely zero extra to our community,” he said.

“I feel grossly let down on behalf of Bourne that this is the way it is,” he said, before adding, however: “The law is as it is.”

SKDC Planning committee on May 12.

Other councillors raised concerns over a lack of bungalows, climate change improvements and traffic.

The plans include 36 homes classed as affordable along with open space and a small children’s play area along the western front.

A new spine road that provides access to the proposed dwellings from Manning Road is also planned.

The applicants will also be asked to pay a total of £688,972 towards education, health and open space provision in the area.

A former taxi driver from Lincoln swapped cabs for cones when he opened a new ice cream parlour in Saxilby in April.

Mark Fisk owns Waters Edge on Bridge street in Saxilby, which sells around 20 flavours of Blyton ice cream. There’s also an additional five that are vegan friendly and more additions coming in the future.

All the cakes at Waters Edge are vegan, and most are also gluten-free, while waffles, milkshakes and 200 Degrees Coffee are also available to buy in the shop. The cakes and ice cream flavours rotate every few days.

Mark was a self-employed taxi driver for nine years, but his firm was badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, especially after airport runs stopped.

During his teens, Mark, 38, worked in the ice cream parlour of the cafe at Lincoln Castle, which he loved and he wanted to revisit his passion again.

All the cakes are vegan friendly at Waters Edge. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A wide range of milkshakes, vegan cakes, cookies, waffles and ice cream at Waters Edge in Saxilby. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Mark changed the route of his career and Waters Edge was born, where he works alongside his brother, 28-year-old Zac Russell and four other staff. The shop has been a big hit in the village since it opened on Good Friday, April 2.

It has been a busy time for Mark, who became a father-of-two after the birth of his daughter on Sunday, May 9, and he is loving his new career.

Mark Fisk is the owner of Waters Edge in Saxilby. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Waffles with a selection of flavours of Blyton ice cream and toppings to choose from. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A selection of tasty cookies too. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

He told The Lincolnite: “We’ve been really busy and the feedback in the village is that we are a nice and welcome addition.

“We also wanted to offer an alternative and the vegan options have been very well received.

“The support from the village has been really invigorating and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback, which feels great going forward for the future.”

A wide selection of vegan cakes to choose from. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Waters Edge is located next to a hair boutique and barber shop on Bridge Street in Saxilby. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Waters Edge is currently open daily between 10am and 5pm, with the aim of extending the hours into the evening on some days in the future. Indoor seating will also be added in the coming months.

Plans for a £15 million development in Grimsby, which will create up to 50 new jobs, have been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council.

Developer Wykeland Group has applied for planning consent for a new state-of-the-art facility at the Europarc business park in Grimsby.

This will allow for HSH Coldstores, a leading food profits supply chain business, to have a temperature-controlled storage facility, three-storey offices and a refrigeration plant room.

Altogether this will take up 171,000 sq ft of floorspace, with plans also in place for an 80-space car park, with electric charging points and room for bicycles and motorbikes, on a 12-acre site.

HSH Coldstores already has three sites in Grimsby, providing solutions for frozen and chilled food products by offering cold storage, transport, or both.

Plans have been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council. | Photo: UMC Architects

The family-run company has more than 130 staff at its existing sites and in driving roles, and new jobs created by the Europarc development would include coldstore operatives, LGV drivers and stock office administrators.

Anthony Howard, Managing Director of HSH Coldstores, said: “This expansion is needed due to increasing demand for storage from existing and potential new customers.

“I’m extremely excited that we’re growing and Europarc is the perfect location, with its fantastic road links and other food–based businesses on site, for this exciting new facility.

“We’re really proud to be working in partnership with Wykeland to invest in the local community and boost the economy.

“It’s fantastic we’re in a position to expand in the current climate, but it’s only possible because of the hard work and dedication of our whole team.”