Visuals for the proposed Hawthorn Road Bridge. Image: Lincolnshire County Council
Work on Lincoln’s long-awaited eastern bypass will begin in the next three or four months after the government gave the scheme the go-ahead.
The inquiry in August 2015 saw a Department for Transport inspector consider the cases for and against Compulsory Purchase (CPO) and Side Roads Orders that are needed for work on the bypass to proceed.
The single carriageway road costing an estimated £96 million will run from the roundabout at Wragby Road to a new roundabout at Sleaford Road on the A15.
The planning process proved controversial with many residents campaigning against the planned closure of Hawthorn Road.
The bypass also generated keen discussions from parish councils neighbouring the proposed bypass, with members of Cherry Willingham Parish Council describing the footbridge as “unsafe” at the inquiry.
Planning permission for the scheme was given by Lincolnshire County Council back in June 2013 but the DfT put the project on hold after concerns were raised about a junction connecting Hawthorn Road to a footbridge spanning the bypass.
The county council approved a revised design of the footbridge, leading to the second public inquiry in 2015.
Lincolnshire County Councillor Richard Davies. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Councillor Richard Davies said: “It’s great news for Lincoln and the wider Lincolnshire area that we’ve been granted the side roads order with no alterations.
“It’s been a long, drawn out process with its highs and lows but I’m glad that the inspector has approved the project and now we can crack on with building the road.
“The bypass will substantially reduce traffic from current hotspots like Canwick Hill and Pelham Bridge.
“It will also open up development opportunities as part of our growth agenda because for this to happen, we need highways infrastructure like this scheme in place.
“We expect the diggers to be on the site in May or June, and it will take a few years to complete, but the benefits to Lincoln and Greater Lincolnshire will be tremendous.”
DfT officials consider the case for and against Compulsory Purchase and Side Roads Orders for the Lincoln Eastern Bypass. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A DfT spokesperson said: “We have approved Lincolnshire County Council’s plans for a new Lincoln Eastern Bypass after reviewing the findings of a planning inspector’s report following a public inquiry held last year.
“We look forward to working with the council as the project progresses.”
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Over a tonne of food and essential items, as well as more than £16,000, have been donated to local food banks through a Lincolnshire Co-op campaign.
The donations came after Lincolnshire Co-op launched its food bank advent calendar campaign throughout December.
An estimated 1,350kg of food and essentials, the equivalent of around 3,213 meals, and £16,675 of store dividend and cash was donated to over 40 larders and food banks in Lincolnshire.
Customers could also donate store dividend as well as cash and items. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Customers were encouraged to donate one item each day during their shopping, dropping them in collection bins at local stores.
A full collection bin at the Queen Elizabeth Road store in Lincoln. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Each day a new item was suggested by Lincolnshire Co-op, ranging from tinned goods to cleaning products, providing an advent calendar format for the scheme.
Items were suggested for donations with campaign labels in stores. | Photo: Lincolnshire Co-op
Sam Turner, Community Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to our Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign.
“Thanks to the generosity of our shoppers, members, and colleagues, we’ve been able to support the important work of local food banks in our area and help feed families at Christmas and beyond.”
Boston United will have no games for two weeks, as the National League North and South divisions come to a temporary halt.
It comes after a review of feedback from all clubs in the sixth tier of English football, which will see football at that level paused for two weeks.
The move is effective immediately, meaning Boston United’s home fixture against Brackley Town has been postponed until further notice.
A board meeting with the National League decided to put a stop to football at that level, amid growing concerns of rising coronavirus cases and winter financial packages.
Clubs were informed that while government funding was still likely from January to March, it would be in the form of loans rather than grants should football continue to go ahead.
Boston United chairman David Newton. | Photo: Boston United FC
Boston United chairman David Newton issued a statement on Thursday outlining the club’s stance in relation to the season, saying that he supported the decision to suspend the season.
“Clubs were also asked to give their views on a potential four-to-six-week suspension of the competition.
“After lengthy discussions within the club, we confirmed that we would, on balance, support this.
“We are a football club so, of course, we want to be playing games, but our decision took into account a number of factors.
“We are somewhat uncomfortable playing when the pandemic is at its peak and a large part of the population are locked down.
“Despite the strict Covid protocols we have in place, there is always a risk to players, staff and their families, and that has to be paramount in decision-making.
“We would, of course, need to know the detail relating to any suspension – and planned restart – before offering our final support to the proposal.”
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