Lincoln council leader fiercely rejects plans for unitary authority referendum

There has been a further 53% spike in COVID-19 cases so far this week in Lincolnshire, and hospital-based coronavirus-related deaths have gone up by one compared to last week.

The latest figures show there have been 422 coronavirus cases so far this week but government recorded deaths have decreased by three — an increase of 53.45% compared to the 275 cases and two deaths last week.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 51 new cases in Lincolnshire, 33 in North East Lincolnshire and nine in North Lincolnshire.

There were no deaths reported in government figures, however a decrease in numbers earlier this week was due to residents being more accurately designated to their correct addresses.

NHS England, however, reported one local hospital death in Greater Lincolnshire’s four health trusts so far this week (but none on Friday), equal to this time last week.

On Friday, national COVID cases increased by 10,476 to 4,610,893 while deaths rose by 11 to 127,956.

Lincolnshire’s health boss has said that at least half of new coronavirus cases in the county are likely to be the more virulent Delta variant.

Lincolnshire County Council’s director of public health Professor Derek Ward said that of the 270 cases in the last seven days, about 110 were the new Delta variant, implying at least half/two-thirds could be the Indian mutation.

Lincolnshire’s coronavirus case date up to June 18.

However, he said Lincolnshire had a much better chance of getting enough people vaccinated before the lockdown delay ends than some other areas of the UK. Over 900,000 doses have been administered in the county so far, almost 80% of the population.

The R number in England has remained unchanged from last week, staying between 1.2 and 1.4, latest government figures have shown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also said he is “very confident” that the final stage of lockdown will take place by July 19 after delaying it by a month this week.

Vaccinations have also opened for all adults, meaning anyone over 18 can now book a COVID jab.

Meanwhile, the ONS weekly infection survey has estimated that 105,000 people nationally had coronavirus, outside hospitals or care homes, in the week ending 12 June. The figure is equal to 1 in 520 people.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, June 18

61,605 cases (up 93)

• 42,639 in Lincolnshire (up 51)
• 9,854 in North Lincolnshire (up nine)
• 9,112 in North East Lincolnshire (up 33)

2,194 deaths (no change)

• 1,622 from Lincolnshire (no change)
• 302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
• 270 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,312 hospital deaths (no change)

• 816 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
• 42 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 453 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,610,893 UK cases, 127,956 deaths

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.

A teenager alleged to have murdered a 12-year-old appeared “oblivious” when he spoke hours later to a mutual friend, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court was told on Friday.

The friend told the jury that he spoke to the defendant later on the day when Roberts is alleged to have been murdered at Fishtoft.

At the time of their conversation Roberts had been reported missing and some of his friends spent time looking for him in Boston.

The witness said: “I called him (the defendant). I talked to him about what a girl had told me. Something had happened. He (Roberts) had disappeared.

“He (the defendant) was oblivious to it. More like he didn’t really care. We talked about how weird the situation was because Rob wasn’t the type of person to run off. We talked about that for about 10 minutes. After that we shifted the conversation.”

The witness said that earlier on the same day he met up with the defendant in Boston and they spent time together.

When asked to describe how the defendant appeared, the witness said: “He was obviously feeling down. In general he was drained. A bit snappy. To put it bluntly he was just different.

“Physically he was injured on his hand. He was all plastered up. I asked him what happened. He said he cut himself.”

The witness said he later learned from a friend that Roberts was dead.

The 14-year-old defendant, who cannot be identified because of a court order, denies the murder of Roberts Buncis.

The jury has been told that Roberts was lured from his home by the defendant in the middle of the night who then stabbed him “again and again” leaving him with multiple knife wounds.

Roberts’ body was found in a wooded area near to a footpath in Fishtoft on the morning of December 12, 2020.

— The trial continues on Monday.

More from the Roberts Buncis murder trial:

• Teen admitted to killing Roberts Buncis to friend, jury told
• Roberts Buncis murder accused used drugs daily and carried knife at school, jury told
• Roberts Buncis, 12, savagely killed over snitch fears, court hears
• Trial details savage murder of Roberts Buncis, 12

A petition has been launched to fully re-open the toilets on Lincoln’s Westgate car park after council leaders announced they would only be opening the facilities for events.

The City of Lincoln Council’s executive will examine the plans later this month, which will also see the Victorian urinals at The Lawn on Union Road and Newport Arch closed permanently, and facilities at Lucy Tower opened for special events only in a bid to save £86,000 per year.

However, Fiona Purkiss of Midas Art in the Bailgate, along with other business owners, said the Westgate facilities need to be open and accessible to all on a daily basis.

Her petition “Save Our Loos – We demand the reopening of Westgate Loos in Lincoln” has received more than 160 signatures in 20 hours.

Fiona said it was good that the disabled facilities would remain accessible, but that the walk to the Castle Square facilities — the closest public toilets to remain open — was too far for some of those without radar keys.

According to Google Maps, the distance between the two facilities is 450-550m depending on whether users go via the castle or the Bailgate.

A screenshot of Google Maps showing two routes people could take from the Westgate toilets to Castle Square. | Image: Google

She said that since the toilets closed at the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown, she had already seen people caught short, having to take drastic action or have an accident.

“I have had people come into the shop a bit anxious about needing the toilet. I would not say “no” [to them using my toilet] but it’s not actually suitable for the general public,” she said, adding she also had security concerns due to her own loo being accessed through a stockroom.

“I witnessed three men stood there. They got out of their car, tried the door and shouted back before weeing up against the wall.

“It’s been going for some time, we have had some very embarrassed, middle-aged women arrive who would not make it to Castle Square. They have been forced to wee in a carrier bag or a tissue box they kept in their side door.”

“It’s mortifying for them,” she said.

Fiona Purkiss, of Midas Arts. Photo: Daniel Jaines

She said a suggestion that people use the toilets of pubs and restaurants could leave people feeling uncomfortable if they did not wish to purchase anything while there – particularly during lockdown when patrons are required to queue during busy times, and must have tables pre-booked.

She added that a lack of facilities could put visitors off coming to the city and that it was disruptive to delivery drivers, taxi drivers and others, including parents waiting to pick their children up from Westgate Academy.

The council, however, feels its proposals have been misrepresented by opponents.

It has denied the toilets will be closed permanently – but says that they have been “mothballed”.

Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The city council welcomes petitions and recognises they are a good way for people to convey their concerns to us.

“However, it is essential that people who are considering signing any petition are presented with the full and correct facts so they can make a judgement on whether to sign or not.

“Following consultation with the public, we are proposing to keep open the disabled toilet and allow the main facilities to be available during events such as Lincoln Christmas Market.

“At other times, alternative facilities are available on Castle Square, a short five minute walk away.”

“We have also never suggested that people use toilets in cafes and bars to supplement our provision, we have merely highlighted that paying customers have these facilities at their disposal and should use them if needed.

He said the proposals would also keep the toilets open at Tentercroft St and the bus station.

“Add to this the upcoming refurbishment of toilets at the Central Market and we feel there is a significant spread of facilities across the city, uphill and in the city centre, to serve the needs of shoppers and tourists alike.”

“Good food doesn’t have to be dull.” That’s what Ben Jennings at Twisted Street Food told The Lincolnite when we went to try out his now famous potato skewers, as well as a brand new item on the menu.

Ben Jennings, 48, is originally from London but has lived in Lincoln for 13 years, and he has worked in and out of the hospitality sector for almost a decade.

Twisted Street Food was an idea he had around two years ago, and after COVID-19 postponed the launch, he is now up and running selling street food delights in the city since October 2020.

Ben is meticulous with his food prep. | Photo: The Lincolnite

“I just love food, I am so passionate about it and always have been,” Ben told The Lincolnite. “Street food suits me down to the ground, it’s far better than being static in a kitchen.

“For me, the experience is of equal importance to the quality of the food, so it has to be fun as well as tasty.”

Here is where you can find Twisted Street Food, outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite

You can find Twisted Street Food outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, as well as his monthly pop-ups at Lincoln Castle.

Ben’s big hit so far have been his twisted potato skewers, which are twice fried and served with seasoning and sauce.

The potato skewers start off pretty routinely. | Photo: The Lincolnite

He has developed sixteen different seasoned salts and offers them in batches of four to six depending on demand, varying from cajun spice to Spanish onion and Cornish salt.

“This is where the magic happens.” | Photo: The Lincolnite

Ta-da! | Photo: The Lincolnite

The potato becomes twisted with a spiral cutter, before they are fried and dosed with a choice of Twisted’s various spices and sauces.

The skewers are then fried before being seasoned and prepped for serving. | Photo: The Lincolnite

His latest invention is a wonderful chilli dog, based on a 1950s recipe from Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Ben has added a local twist to this legendary dish, offering Lincolnshire sausages, supplied by local butcher Foster’s on Monks Road, instead of the traditional Bratwurst.

The chilli dog looks mesmerising. | Photo: The Lincolnite

The chilli dog will come with caramelised onion, nine hour slow cooked beef chilli mix, blow torched mature cheddar and then garnished with fresh chillies, spring onion and American mustard.

The gourmet burger is a sight to behold. | Photo: The Lincolnite

Adding this to the menu alongside the already popular skewers and gourmet burger is part of the next step in Ben’s development with Twisted.

With a menu this good, how can you go wrong? | Photo: The Lincolnite

Ben added: “Street food is taking off, and with table service looking to be the route forward it’s cause for me to be excited, everything is just so much more civilised.

“The uptake has been massive since we started, people seem really interested in it, I think above all else the public are just delighted to be back out and about.

The gourmet burger comes with onions, molten cheddar, lettuce, gherkins, onion rings, tomato and a prosciutto crisp. | Photo: The Lincolnite

“As for myself, I’m hoping to be able to reach the festival and events circuits soon enough, as well as doing a few private events and carrying on with the success we’ve had at The Victoria and the castle.”

The twisted potatoes will cost £3.50 with seasoning and sauce, while the gourmet burger and chilli dog cost £8.50 with French fries and sauce.

Great options at Twisted Street Food. | Photo: The Lincolnite

A trial hearing has been set for the seven people charged with the murder of Sam Davies in Lincoln.

Sam, 23, died after being found with multiple stab wounds at a property in Coleridge Gardens on Thursday, May 27.

Three men were initially arrested and charged with his murder, and they were then joined in custody by four others.

All seven men appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Friday, June 18, and a Crown Court hearing date has now been set.

The seven men charged with Sam’s murder are:

• Joe Jameson, 23, of Whitehall Terrace, Lincoln
• Daniel Heydari, 24, of Chestnut Street, Lincoln
• Eric Kesel, 18, of Browning Drive, Lincoln
• Eimantis Gochman, 19, of Sturton Close, Lincoln
• Charlie Wakefield, 20, of Broxholme Gardens, Lincoln
• Billy Gill, 20, of Beaufort Close, Lincoln
• A 17-year-old Lincoln male who cannot be named for legal reasons

All seven will appear before Lincoln Crown Court on June 28 ahead of the trial of the murder of Sam Davies, and have been remanded in custody until that date.

Police are looking to identify a man who may have been involved in the assault of a taxi driver in Wainfleet last month.

At around 9.15pm on May 2, a taxi driver was assaulted on the A52 Skegness Road in Wainfleet.

The assault caused injuries to the taxi driver’s tongue and jaw, and CCTV images of the man allegedly involved have now been released.

Other police attempts to identify the man have so far proven unsuccessful, so a public appeal has been put out on June 18.

If you know who he is or have any information about the incident, call 101 and quote incident 548 of May 2.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected] and use the same incident reference in the subject box.