Karen Lee: Why I’m campaigning to keep the Red Arrows in Lincoln

People should avoid travelling into or out of South Yorkshire unless absolutely necessary as new lockdown measures come into play for the region.

Lincolnshire’s neighbours including Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham will be put into tier three restrictions from Saturday, October 24.

The move means stricter measures which could affect Lincolnshire residents crossing the county border for work or other reasons.

One of the new rules says people should “try to avoid travelling outside the very high alert level or entering a very high alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey”.

The government also says South Yorkshire residents should avoid staying overnight in other parts of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in area as well.

So, if you were planning a jaunt to Meadowhall Shopping Centre it might be wise to reconsider, similarly, if you live in Doncaster but were hoping for a coastal break in Skegness, you might want to put that bucket and spade away.

Other measures include:

• People being told they must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
• People must not socialise in a group of more than six in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
• All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals
• Additional closures including betting shops, adult gaming centres, casinos and soft play centres.
• Gym classes will not be allowed and social distancing guidelines should be followed between people from different households (but gyms will remain open).

The restrictions for tier 3 – very high – lockdown.

The latest moves follows a rapid rise in the rate of COVID-19 infections across the UK.

The infection rate in England stood at 169 people per 100,000 from 9 October to 15 October, up from 100 for the week of September 25 to October 1.

Elsewhere, Nottinghamshire is reportedly in discussions about tier 3 restrictions too, along with West Yorkshire, the North East and Teesside.

In South Yorkshire rates are among the highest in the country and continuing to rise rapidly, with case rates ranging from 285 people per 100,000 in Doncaster up to 402 people per 100,000 in Sheffield.

Government slides showing the change of rates and infection levels across England between October 12 and October 20.

Announcing the new measures, health secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’m very grateful to the local leadership in South Yorkshire who have worked together closely, cross party, on the need for additional measures to protect lives and livelihoods. A failure to act now would only lead to tougher and longer lasting restrictions later.

“I understand the sacrifice people in South Yorkshire have already made and the enormous impact further measures will have on people’s lives. That is why we are also providing support to businesses and contact tracing activity across South Yorkshire.

“Now is the time for us all to work together to get this virus under control.”

Lincolnshire is tier 1 – medium – lockdown.

North Lincolnshire Council is planning to plant 172,000 trees in the next few years, one for every person that lives in the area.

The target is part of a new initiative to create 25 acres of urban woodland in Scunthorpe, with tens of thousands of new trees.

It will urge residents to help plant the trees and make the area greener and cleaner, helping reduce the region’s carbon footprint.

Three new woods would be created as part of the project across Scunthorpe. They are:

• Almost four acres of land along the length of Grange Lane North, over 2,000 trees planted from the junction with Queensway
• Hempdyke Woods will be almost doubled in size with 7,000 trees planted from Ferry Road south through to Doncaster Road
• Hardy Road woods extended north to meet West Common Lane and south through to Manor Park with 7,000 extra trees

The scheme is part of a £500 million Northern Forest project launched by the government, with 50 million trees being planted across the north of England over the course of 25 years.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We’ve set a very ambitious target to plant a tree for every one of the 172,000 residents of North Lincolnshire across the coming few years.

“We want to start by extending the woodland in a number of areas of Scunthorpe to create new urban woodland – the benefits of which are huge for people living in these communities.”

Four dogs that spent four months training in Northern Lincolnshire have joined the Humberside Police dog section.

All four will have experienced handlers and will operate as ‘general purpose’ dogs for the police after 13 weeks of training earlier in the year.

Quinta, Roos, Turbo and Chevy will be used for searching and tracking down suspects or missing people, as well as disarming people carrying weapons, locating objects and crowd control.

Quinta, an almost 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, will join the force with handler PC Mike Tune, who was full of praise for his pup.

Quinta, 3, is a “great partner” according to her handler. | Photo: Humberside Police

“When I suffered an injury to a tendon in my knee earlier this year which disrupted our training, Quinta is what got me through it because of the strong bond we’d built and my determination to get back to work to start going on jobs together.

“She’s an athletic, energetic dog with a high drive which makes her perfect for working in the police force, and a great partner.”

As for PC Kirk Pickering, he is now working his dream job in the dog section with Roos, the 18-month-old Belgian Malinois.

Roos, 18-months-old, is extremely fast, her handler said: “You can try and outrun her, but you won’t.” | Photo: Humberside Police

He said: “Having grown up with dogs, I always knew that I wanted to join the police’s dog section.

“I’ve been very lucky that a position came up fairly early on in my career so that I can continue to serve our communities and respond to incidents, but now with the help of Roos.

“But I’d say she’s more of a cross between a kangaroo and alligator with her vibrant, bouncy personality! She has fitted really well into the team and my home life too.”

The third addition is Turbo, an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd cross, along with his handler PC Rob James, who has 15 years experience at Humberside Police.

Turbo has already been busy, attending firearm jobs in his first month. | Photo: Humberside Police

Rob said: “Turbo and I already have a great relationship. We’re still learning each other but he’s really hard-working, affectionate and knows when it’s time to get serious at work.

“We’ve been working on live incidents for around a month now and have already got to attend firearms jobs, public disorders and track suspects carrying weapons.”

Last but certainly not least is Chevy, another Belgian Malinois who is the youngest of the group at just 16-months-old.

Chevy is full of energy, being the youngest of the group. | Photo: Humberside Police

PC Andy Reid has got his wish to serve in the dog section and is delighted to be partnered with Chevy.

“It’s really exciting getting to finally attend jobs with Chevy. It’s all new for her, so seeing her positively locate people or property makes me really proud.

“Joining the dog section is a big commitment, but one that is really fulfilling. We train the dogs every single day, which means I get to form a really great bond with Chevy in and outside of work. Seeing her take the training we do on board for live jobs is a brilliant feeling.”

Eight out of nine Greater Lincolnshire Conservative MPs rejected a plan to extend free school meals over the school holidays.

Labour called for the provision of hot food for children to carry on until Easter 2021, however the motion was defeated by a majority of 61.

Leading the vote, Labour’s shadow education secretary Kate Green said more than 1.4 million children benefit from free school meals nationally.

Almost 900,000 of those eligible were now in areas subject to tougher COVID-19 restrictions, she added.

“In the summer, when this issue was debated in this House, the government saw sense, did the right thing and ensured that no child would go hungry over the summer holidays,” she said.

“This time, however, despite many families facing even more challenging circumstances now than they did four months ago, shamefully the government are walking away from their obligation to hungry children.”

Her counterpart, education secretary Gavin Williamson, however, said the government was in a different position.

“Free school meals are and always have been about supporting children with a meal to help them when they’re at school or currently at home learning,” he said.

“But it is our support through universal credit and our comprehensive welfare system that supports families.”

Those who voted against the plans were (all Conservative):

• Karl McCartney, Lincoln (vote cast by Stuart Andrew on his behalf)
• Victoria Atkins, Louth and Horncastle
• Gareth Davies, Grantham and Stamford
• Sir John Hayes, South Holland and the Deepings
• Caroline Johnson, Sleaford and North Hykeham (vote cast by Stuart Andrew on her behalf)
• Sir Edward Leigh, Gainsborough
• Matt Warman, Boston and Skegness
• Martin Vickers, Cleethorpes

The only MP to vote for the plans was Scunthorpe Conservative MP Holly Mumby-Croft.

Greater Grimsby MP Lia Nici and Brigg and Goole’s Andrew Percy did not vote.

None of the MPs spoke on the motion.

Former Lincoln Labour MP Karen Lee criticised her successor on Twitter.