Work to begin on Lincoln Transport Hub after government releases funding
Work on the Lincoln Transport Hub will now begin in a fortnight after the Department for Transport released vital funding for the project. The £29 million scheme will see the existing bus station and two pedestrian footbridges demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art facility, 1,000 space car park, and railway improvements. Contractors Willmott Dixon…
Designs for the new Lincoln Transport Hub. Image: CoLC
Work on the Lincoln Transport Hub will now begin in a fortnight after the Department for Transport released vital funding for the project.
The £29 million scheme will see the existing bus station and two pedestrian footbridges demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art facility, 1,000 space car park, and railway improvements.
Contractors Willmott Dixon Construction are due to start work on site in the week beginning August 29.
Government officials have said that the new project is expected to create up to 200 jobs in the city, and deliver an economic boost worth £9 million a year.
Designs for the new Lincoln Transport Hub. Image: CoLC
The Department for Transport has provided £11 million towards the project, with the City of Lincoln Council providing £16 million and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership contributing £2 million.
The £11 million is being delivered under the Local Growth Fund – a £12 billion fund to support a variety of projects including transport schemes, new housing and improving education.
Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of City of Lincoln Council (Labour). Photo: Stuart Wilde
Council leader Ric Metcalfe said: “This is an incredibly exciting scheme that will move Lincoln city centre into the 21st century, ensuring the potential for future growth, creating an attractive and connected gateway to the city and making it an even better place to live, work, visit and do business.
“I know many people will be glad to see our current bus station demolished. A new facility is long overdue and will be able to cope with even more than the seven million passengers who use the bus in Lincoln each year.
“We’ve received a huge amount of support for the hub scheme and I hope people will be patient while this vital work is underway.”
Angela Andrews, Chief Executive for City of Lincoln Council
Angela Andrews, Chief Executive of the city council, said: “Lincoln Transport Hub is a vital scheme to ensure the future of our city centre and we are excited to be able to start on site in the next couple of weeks.
“These superb new facilities will revitalise the heart of our city centre, bringing huge benefits to our residents, visitors, businesses and commuters, as well as our local economy.”
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “A new bus station, car park and upgraded railway station will be a huge benefit to people who live and work in Lincoln, and those who visit the city.”
Designs for the new Lincoln Transport Hub. Image: CoLC
As previously reported, the project was split into two phases in January 2016, to allow the bus station, car park and shops to be built first.
The first phase, which no longer includes a dual-purpose footbridge, would begin earlier than anticipated and construction could be complete by the end of next year.
Phase two of the project will see a footbridge over the railway linking Tentercroft Street to Lincoln city centre constructed.
The council hopes to have the bus station and car park ready for opening in October 2017.
Thornbridge and Sincil Street car parks will close permanently, as will the NCP Oxford Road car park.
The existing bus station will close when works start and a new temporary bus station will operate from Tentercroft Street.
Access to the railway station will be maintained from St Mary’s Street throughout the construction works.
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A local man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving after two pedestrians were injured in a collision with a car and three parked vehicles in Skegness.
Lincolnshire Police officers attended the scene after the collision between a blue Citroen Berlingo, the parked vehicles, and a man and a woman, who are both in their 60s, on Winthorpe Avenue shortly before 7pm on Friday, April 16.
The two pedestrians suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. However, their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
A 63-year-old local man, who was driving the Berlingo, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving. He has since been released under investigation.
Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage and anyone with information should contact them on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident number 389 of April 16.
Few people attended the second Kill the Bill protest in Lincoln on Saturday, as Extinction Rebellion activists stood alone on the High Street to campaign against a proposed policing bill that could make many protests illegal.
Activists from Extinction Rebellion Lincolnshire gathered at Speakers’ Corner to oppose plans for the latest Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which could curtail protesting rights if passed through parliament.
Extinction Rebellion were the main representatives at the protest. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Under the proposed bill, police officers will be given greater powers to put a stop to any protests, as well as determining start and finish times for them, and controlling noise levels.
A few stopped to talk with the protestors, but most just went about their day walking down Lincoln High Street in the first weekend that non-essential shops and beer gardens reopened.
The Lincolnite spoke to one of the rebels at the protest, to find out the reasons behind the march.
They said: “This draconian bill cannot go ahead, it needs to be taken apart and re-evaluted completely.
“People have been walking past us shaking their heads, but they don’t realise that it’s their freedom we are fighting for.”
The Lincolnite photographer Steve Smailes captured some pictures from the protest.
Signs were put up by the works at Speakers’ Corner on Lincoln High Street. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash on the A52 on Friday evening.
The single-vehicle crash, involving a white Suzuki Splash, happened in the westbound lane of the A52 between Barrowby and Sedgebrook at around 7.20pm on Friday, April 16.
The driver of the car is now in hospital after suffering serious injuries, and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Officers believe the driver had travelled from Grantham on the A52 at Barrowby before the crash.
Anyone who has dashcam footage or saw the vehicle before the incident is being asked to call 101, quoting incident 420 of April 16.
Alternatively, you can email [email protected], using the same reference in the subject box.