Comedian Jack Whitehall to star in charity football day at Blundell Park

Members of the Royal Air Force from RAF Waddington are organising a fundraising duck race in Lincoln later this month.

The event held between High Bridge and the foot bridge by the Witch and Wardrobe Pub in Lincoln city centre will take place from 1.30pm on Wednesday, August 25.

Some 3,000 ducks are unloaded into the river. It will be the first duck race since 2019 as COVID put a stop to the 2021 event.

Duck tickets are available at £2 each by emailing [email protected] and all money raised will go to the Royal Air Force Association.

Prizes include £200, a family ticket for the Lincolnshire Aviation Centre and a signed Red Arrows print.

| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A Lincolnshire estate agent has warned that plans for a radioactive waste storage facility in Theddlethorpe are causing people to reconsider buying houses in the area, and has urged for the proposals to be scrapped.

News of the plans came in late July, when Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) confirmed it was in “early discussions” with Lincolnshire County Council about using the former ConocoPhillips Gas Terminal as a nuclear waste underground disposal facility.

RWM has promised to start a conversation with the community about the proposals, in order to hear and understand people’s views on the matter, and LCC has stressed that no decision will be made without public backing.

The Theddlethorpe community organised a campaign meeting in opposition to the radioactive waste storage plans, with around 100 people gathering at Mablethorpe Sherwood Playing Fields to protest it.

As well as this, a petition set up by a local resident has been signed by almost 2,500 people, and a Facebook group called “No Nuke Dump In Lincolnshire” has reached 2,700 members.

Now, an estate agent in the area is suggesting that potential buyers are being put off moving to Theddlethorpe because of the possibility that the nuclear waste storage plans could go ahead.

Cindy Dykes, director at Lovelle estate agents, told The Lincolnite that “at least” 60% of the clients they contacted about housing in the area have said they will no longer be moving to Theddlethorpe as a result of the plans.

She said: “Even as an agent we are trying to settle newcomers to the towns and villages by saying it has not been passed yet — we were as much in shock as all the other local people on how this has been dropped on us.

“Even if this was to go ahead it would take years for anything to happen, but we have seen people saying that they had held off marketing their properties because of COVID-19, and now because of this they are not looking at selling; it is having a knock on effect on the local housing market.”

Cindy has called on the council and RWM to shelve the plans in the interest of the future of the town, especially given the difficulties of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Besides the local business already suffering because of the lasting effects of the pandemic, what impact will this also have on the tourist wanting to come to the coast having that smack bang on the door step?

“Would you want your children on a lovely sandy beach knowing that a nuclear storage facility is less than a mile away and underground? – I know I wouldn’t.”

“COVID was worrying enough, but this is now very worrying, we could end up being the forgotten seaside town because of the nuclear storage facility – the local farmers and businesses have suffered enough already in the last two years without having this to deal with as well.”

Acting, siting and engagement director at RWM, Steve Reece, said: “With any potential sites, RWM will undertake work with local people during the sitting process to assess whether there is likely to be any impact locally and consider whether a property support scheme would be appropriate.

“We’re listening. We would like to engage with the local community to hear their thoughts and views. This sitting process is all about discussion, working in partnership with communities and fact-finding before making any decisions.”

The County Council Leader Martin Hill promised a binding local referendum on the plans in the future.

A Lincoln pub that closed during the coronavirus pandemic could be turned into flats after a planning application was submitted to City of Lincoln Council.

It was announced in January this year that the West End Tap would not reopen again under its current management. Lincoln Tap Pubs Ltd ended their lease agreement in May 2019 for the pub on Newland Street West before local lad Dan Neale reopened the venue in August of that year, but it has since shut down.

Lincs Design Consultancy Ltd submitted a planning application to the city council last month to change the use of the ground floor from a pub and existing upper floor flat to form two maisonettes.

Existing and proposed elevations and floor plans. | Photo: Lincs Design Consultancy Ltd

The demolition of rear outbuildings would facilitate a two storey extension and the erection of one new dwelling.

The planning application was submitted on July 27 this year and is currently being considered by the city council.

When the West End Tap announced it was closing on social media in January this year, a statement read: “Guys, I’m afraid it’s the news that we never wanted to have to announce. Unfortunately, after this lockdown The West End Tap will not be opening again, under our management anyway.

“It’s been a tough year for all of us so gonna try not dwell on the negative. Much love, thanks and endless respect for everyone involved in making the pub what it was over the last year or two.

“Sincerely hope to see you all in the future for a pint in another one of the many great pubs Lincoln has to offer.”