Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill with his dog Boris
It has been yet another momentous year at the county council.
May saw the county council elections in which my Conservative group gained a clear majority.
While I was naturally pleased at this strong endorsement for the way we have managed local services, we have not rested on our laurels and have ambitious plans for the future.
We were elected on five key commitments:
Securing the best Brexit deal for Lincolnshire
Spending taxpayers’ money wisely
Keeping Lincolnshire moving
Good health and wellbeing – protecting the vulnerable
Promoting our communities – a good quality of life
As you can see, we are always looking for ways to improve the lives of Lincolnshire people.
With that in mind we have launched our Fairer Funding campaign. Councils across the county have received far less money than metropolitan urban areas.
We believe that supporting our communities across a sparsely populated rural area provides its own challenges and that we should be funded by central government accordingly.
We are actively lobbying alongside our MPs for the funding system to be reviewed.
I would like to thank everyone who has backed our campaign so far. Look out for updates on progress throughout the coming year.
I am pleased to say that after years of planning, the city’s biggest road project in decades, the £99 million Lincoln Eastern Bypass – from the A158 Wragby Road roundabout to the A15 at Bracebridge Heath – is now well under way.
Not only will this cut congestion it will also add an estimated £600 million to the local economy.
There are also plenty of other plans in the pipeline for other road improvements in the Lincoln area including the £4 million A46 Dunholme/ Welton roundabout and the £2 million Wragby Road/ Wolsey Way improvements.
We are also working on an outline business case for the North Hykeham Relief Road.
Better broadband is another major improvement we are actively supporting.
In the 21st century, it’s vital for any modern home or business.
The onlincolnshire partnership, led by Lincolnshire councils and BT, has been continuing the roll-out of superfast broadband.
The latest phase will see coverage of almost 97% of the county by the end of 2019.
More than 90% of the county can now sign up with an internet service provider and enjoy faster speeds.
Over the last few years, we have had major opportunities to celebrate Lincolnshire’s rich history, with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and then with the Charter of the Forest.
2018 will see us marking a different kind of history when we commemorate our aviation heritage as part of events to highlight the 100th year of the founding of the RAF.
Lincolnshire: Bastion in the Air, 1915-18, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund runs until April 30, 2020.
The project aims to promote the work carried out in constructing aircraft and defending British airspace during the First World War, which led to the formation of the RAF in 1918, and the continuing links between the county and the RAF.
There will be a series of travelling exhibitions throughout the county during the three-year period, as well as two major static exhibitions in 2018 at RAF Scampton and in The Collection Museum.
New Year’s resolutions
On a local level, as I have already mentioned, I am really hopeful that our Fairer Funding campaign will reap benefits for Lincolnshire.
On a national and international level, we all recognise that the Brexit negotiations have been tricky. But this makes it all the more important that our government sticks to its principles and continues to work hard to deliver the best outcome for all of us.
With that optimistic note, I would like to wish Happy New Year to all Lincolnshire Reporter readers!
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Councillor Martin Hill is the leader of Lincolnshire County Council.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
It has been yet another momentous year at the county council.
May saw the county council elections in which my Conservative group gained a clear majority.
While I was naturally pleased at this strong endorsement for the way we have managed local services, we have not rested on our laurels and have ambitious plans for the future.
We were elected on five key commitments:
Securing the best Brexit deal for Lincolnshire
Spending taxpayers’ money wisely
Keeping Lincolnshire moving
Good health and wellbeing – protecting the vulnerable
Promoting our communities – a good quality of life
As you can see, we are always looking for ways to improve the lives of Lincolnshire people.
With that in mind we have launched our Fairer Funding campaign. Councils across the county have received far less money than metropolitan urban areas.
We believe that supporting our communities across a sparsely populated rural area provides its own challenges and that we should be funded by central government accordingly.
We are actively lobbying alongside our MPs for the funding system to be reviewed.
I would like to thank everyone who has backed our campaign so far. Look out for updates on progress throughout the coming year.
I am pleased to say that after years of planning, the city’s biggest road project in decades, the £99 million Lincoln Eastern Bypass – from the A158 Wragby Road roundabout to the A15 at Bracebridge Heath – is now well under way.
Not only will this cut congestion it will also add an estimated £600 million to the local economy.
There are also plenty of other plans in the pipeline for other road improvements in the Lincoln area including the £4 million A46 Dunholme/ Welton roundabout and the £2 million Wragby Road/ Wolsey Way improvements.
We are also working on an outline business case for the North Hykeham Relief Road.
Better broadband is another major improvement we are actively supporting.
In the 21st century, it’s vital for any modern home or business.
The onlincolnshire partnership, led by Lincolnshire councils and BT, has been continuing the roll-out of superfast broadband.
The latest phase will see coverage of almost 97% of the county by the end of 2019.
More than 90% of the county can now sign up with an internet service provider and enjoy faster speeds.
Over the last few years, we have had major opportunities to celebrate Lincolnshire’s rich history, with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and then with the Charter of the Forest.
2018 will see us marking a different kind of history when we commemorate our aviation heritage as part of events to highlight the 100th year of the founding of the RAF.
Lincolnshire: Bastion in the Air, 1915-18, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund runs until April 30, 2020.
The project aims to promote the work carried out in constructing aircraft and defending British airspace during the First World War, which led to the formation of the RAF in 1918, and the continuing links between the county and the RAF.
There will be a series of travelling exhibitions throughout the county during the three-year period, as well as two major static exhibitions in 2018 at RAF Scampton and in The Collection Museum.
New Year’s resolutions
On a local level, as I have already mentioned, I am really hopeful that our Fairer Funding campaign will reap benefits for Lincolnshire.
On a national and international level, we all recognise that the Brexit negotiations have been tricky. But this makes it all the more important that our government sticks to its principles and continues to work hard to deliver the best outcome for all of us.
With that optimistic note, I would like to wish Happy New Year to all readers of The Lincolnite!
Martin Hill OBE is the Conservative Leader of Lincolnshire County Council. A former farmer, Martin was elected to Lincolnshire County Council in 1993, representing Folkingham Rural. He became council leader in 2005 and was later awarded an OBE for services to Lincolnshire. Martin lives in a former pub at Kirby Underwood with wife Janice and their irrepressible Patterdale Terrier, Boris.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
There have been 1,837 cases of coronavirus and 16 COVID-19 related deaths across Greater Lincolnshire this week so far.
The latest UK coronavirus dashboard figures as of Friday showed a total of 385 new cases, with 208 in Lincolnshire, 78 in North Lincolnshire and 99 in North East Lincolnshire.
The government’s coronavirus dashboard, which includes deaths both in and out of hospitals and those of residents in hospitals outside the county, reported the deaths of two residents in Lincolnshire and one in North East Lincolnshire.
NHS figures confirmed two new COVID-related deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust with another one at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Trust facilities.
The latest figures mean there have been now been 6,736 new COVID-19 cases in Greater Lincolnshire in October and 66 deaths.
In September there were 820 cases — an increase of 820% — while in August there were 204.
Nationally, cases increased by 24,405 to 989,745, while deaths jumped by 274 to 46,229.
Lincolnshire’s cases up to October 30.
North and North East Lincolnshire will go into tier 2 (high) lockdown from midnight on Saturday (October 31).
This comes as Grimsby has the highest infection rates in Greater Lincolnshire. The measures will be reviewed in 14 days.
Lincolnshire is currently still on the medium (tier 1) level for the the new three-tier lockdown system of COVID-19 risk, which means it has no extra restrictions on top of the nation-wide ones.
The week saw a series of changes with Lincolnshire initially thought to be starting discussions for moving to tier 2 on Wednesday, however bosses chose to maintain the status quo.
Later in the day, however, Newark — which was thought to have avoided going into tier 3 — was included in Nottinghamshire’s lockdown, which suddenly encompassed the county as a whole rather than a few select areas.
Next day the news about North and North East Lincolnshire came through last minute — they were heading up the ranks to tier 2.
As long as other areas are also seeing rises, health bosses say Lincolnshire won’t reach the marker needed for higher tiers.
However, government chiefs could change their mind if numbers change rapidly.
The county could also be subject to a national lockdown if government decides to progress with one — but so far chiefs and ministers have resisted calls.
Lincolnshire is, however, bordered on all but the southern edges by higher restrictions with Nottinghamshire this week being put into Tier 3 (very high) – the toughest restrictions — alongside South Yorkshire last week.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire for Friday, October 30
11,328 cases (up up 385)
7,146 in Lincolnshire (up 208)
2,211 in North Lincolnshire (up 78)
1,971 in North East Lincolnshire (up 99)
463 deaths (up three)
320 from Lincolnshire (up two)
95 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
48 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)
of which 306 hospital deaths (up three)
164 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up two)
6 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
135 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)
989,745 UK cases, 46,229 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 new pop-up simulation shooting range has opened at Home nightclub in Lincoln, with technology used by police and the military in USA and replicas of real guns.
Quickdraw was due to launch in the former home of Ruddocks on Lincoln High Street in September 2020 as part of the Carousel concept operated by Lindum Leisure, which has links to a group of businesses including Home, Curiosity Shop and Craft. Lindum Leisure is leasing the building from Ruddocks.
Coronavirus delayed those plans, but workers are now on site with Carousel now due to open in early 2021, but in the meantime people can enjoy a pop-up version of Quickdraw in Home’s recently transformed Loft room with a soft launch from 5pm on Saturday, October 31 and an official opening on November 6.
Quickdraw incorporates technology used by police and the military in USA. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Customers can enjoy a range of crafted cocktails, spirits, beers, wines and a selection of small plates and platters. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Groups of up to six people can test their skills in realistic competition ranges in a fully immersive entertainment experience, with varying levels of difficulty for all ages and abilities.
Bookings can be made through Home’s website or via the Quickdraw Lincoln Facebook page.
Prices are variable depending on group size and are bookable in one or two hour increments as follows:
2 people = £30 (£15 per person)
3 people = £35( £11.66 per person)
4 people = £40 (£10 per person)
5 people = £45 (£9 per person)
6 people = £50 (£8.33 per person)
Pop-up simulation shooting range experience Quickdraw has launched at Home nightclub. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Three varieties of loaded fries are on the menu. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Or why not try the chicken wings? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
In addition, customers can enjoy a range of crafted cocktails, spirits, beers, wines and a selection of small plates and platters, including gyros, loaded fries There are also vegetarian and vegan alternatives.
Quickdraw is open to the public this weekend and will be opening seven days a week from 12pm-10pm from November 6.
Reporter Joseph Verney had a go at the new shooting experience. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Ronnie Byrne was the quickest shooter. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Can you handle the toughest ranges at Quickdraw? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Operations Manager David Nejrup told The Lincolnite: “We are really excited to bring this concept to Lincoln. It’s a really tough time for everyone in hospitality at the moment.
“For the past 10 years our company has always defined hospitality by engaging with our guests in a unique and insightful way, and now I we feel that with the current environment, that definition is more poignant than ever.”
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