District council spends £6.1m on industrial unit

The ground has officially been broken for the University of Lincoln’s new research and development facility, which is due for completion in spring 2022.

‘The Bridge’ Advanced Engineering Research and Development facility will be located alongside the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park and house £1.2 million worth of equipment in specialist laboratories. This includes advanced electron and atomic force microscopes, as well as surface analysis and thermo-mechanical instrumentation.

The ground breaking event took place at the University of Lincoln’s Brayford Pool campus on Wednesday, June 16, with representatives from the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Gleeds, Siemens, Dynex and Teledyne e2v, as well as Henry Brothers who are the contractors for the build. Greater Lincolnshire LEP are investing £1.9 million in the facility.

The specialist hub will act as a centre for collaborative research and development between business and industry partners, and the University of Lincoln.

Alongside high-tech laboratories including clean room facilities, there will be innovation and learning lounges for businesses to engage in training, development and networking activities.

The concept has been co-developed with a working group of industry-based scientists and with engagement from a consortium of more than 20 companies in the region. It is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

Professor Ian Scowen, of the University of Lincoln, said: “We are excited to begin our realisation of a collective vision for developing new approaches that enable businesses to innovate new products.

“Working with dedicated cutting-edge facilities and within environments that encourage business interaction, we aim to bridge barriers to innovation across the range of enterprises in the engineering and materials sectors in Greater Lincolnshire – from the smallest to the largest. The Bridge project is already underway, but this building will add an important focal point for activities in the future.”

Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be investing £1.9m in this new 788m2 R&D facility for Greater Lincolnshire. It will catalyse growth and productivity, promoting research and innovation in the SME supply chains of several key sectors of our economy.

“The Bridge will provide access to commercial scientists for diagnostic support and to potential business opportunities and regular networking forums for knowledge exchange.

“This new facility will directly enhance innovation in advanced materials technologies in the region, helping to create a stronger, more competitive and more resilient manufacturing and engineering sector.”

A Boston shop owner has closed his doors and been given a suspended prison sentence for selling counterfeit cigarettes.

Timurs Olehnovics and his Tauras LT Ltd store on West Street, Boston were subject to a Lincolnshire Trading Standards investigation on February 18 last year.

Officers found 1kg of hand-rolling tobacco and over 5,000 illicit cigarettes that were hidden in the kitchen area at the back of the shop.

Lincolnshire Trading Standards seized around 5,000 illicit cigarettes. | Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

The owner admitted to selling them for around a month, saying he knew he shouldn’t have done it but needed the extra cash.

As well as this, he admitted to hiding the products in an attempt to keep them away from police and investigators.

The cigarettes were hidden away in the kitchen area. | Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

Timurs Olehnovics, 34, of King Street, Boston, was given a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years, as well as being fined £1,318.73.

Mr Olehnovics was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community, and has since closed his store.

The owner has now closed his shop as a result. | Photo: Lincolnshire County Council

Alan Griffin from Lincolnshire Trading Standards said: “Mr Olehnovics was well aware that what he was doing was wrong, and the products he was peddling were dangerous. 

“This latest prosecution is further evidence that Lincolnshire Trading Standards is serious about tackling illicit tobacco in the county.

“The sale of these products attracts other anti-social behaviour and criminality, and any information residents have about counterfeit and illegal cigarettes can help us stub it out.”

Drivers faced huge tailbacks on the A1 near Grantham after two lorries collided in the early hours of the morning.

The northbound lane is closed between B1174 (Grantham South / Little Ponton junction) to A52 (Grantham North / Barrowby turn off).

Recovery work is ongoing at the time of writing (8.30am), and congestion of around two miles is expected on the stretch of road.

Heavy traffic in the area. | Photo: RSM Photography

The crash was first reported in the early hours of Thursday, June 17, but with severe damage to both vehicles involved, and debris on the road, the clear-up is expected to continue for a while.

Drivers have been told to look out for congestion on surrounding local roads.

| Photo: RSM Photography

Pictures emerged of the scene, showing the severe damage to both vehicles.

| Photo: RSM Photography

It is not yet clear if anyone has been injured in the collision.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.