Farmers in Lincolnshire continue to face uncertainty until the Brexit process is “nailed down” says one of the county’s top councillors – adding there is an opportunity for them to become “pioneers”.
It comes after members of the Economic and Scrutiny Committee were given a report on the Agricultural Bill put forward by Defra in September.
Under the Government’s plans subsidies currently enabled by the European Union would continue until 2027, but direct payments to farmers would be decoupled from land-ownership with the aim instead to reward environmental benefits, increasing research and development and supply chain transparency.
Council officers said on Tuesday there were still a “lot of unknowns” adding that a recommended action plan could include a lot of “guess-work and speculation”.
Lincolnshire county councillor Colin Davie. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
Councillor Colin Davie, the Executive Councillor for Economy and Places called the bill a ‘starting point’.
He said: “Until Brexit is nailed down and finalised its hard to determine what the package of new funding mechanisms is going to be.
“But its very clear the Government wants farmers to be more independent from the subsidy regime, I would say there is an argument in support paying farmers for environmental stuff – not for food but for supporting quality of the landscape and the quality of the work they do with their land.”
The bill could play a major part in investment for Lincolnshire – in 2016 there was £128 million payments from subsidies.
The payment could benefit for instance, said officers, those who are tenant farmers who are “wedded to the land” and never had the investment opportunity, or it could go to their pensions.
However, council officers told members on Tuesday that farmers often considered the current payments the difference between profit and loss.
Councillor Davies said he would like to see investment go into automation and robotics, helping farms move into the future and create higher-quality food, rather than cheap food.
“It’s about helping them to become new pioneers, re-pioneering the farming sector to help them produce higher quality products for the market place,” he said.
“Anything that frees up money to enable farmers to invest in the world of technology has got to be a welcome move forward.
“I want to be sure farmers use a ‘windfall’ to make the right decisions to help their businesses to grow and compete in the future.”
Councillors also discussed getting younger people into the farming industry as well as developing and promoting attractive career paths in the sector.
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Two men allegedly stole several cosmetic items from a Tesco store in Market Rasen.
Police are appealing for information after two men entered the store on Linwood Road and put several cosmetic items in a bag at around 5.30pm on Wednesday, July 14.
They then put some clothing on top of the items and left the store without paying for them.
Lincolnshire Police released photos of two men over three weeks later, on Thursday, August 5, who they believe may be able to help with their investigation.
However, they did not specify whether the men in the photographs are suspects or witnesses.
Anyone with information, or who recognises the men, should contact police on 101 quoting reference 21000426506.
Alternatively, it can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Phase two of the Lincoln Cornhill paving works at Speakers’ Corner are now complete and the area has been re-opened to the public.
The project began in September 2020 when the tourist information kiosk was demolished to make way for a “more appropriate space for events.”
New seating was placed around the existing London Plane tree, which was preserved during the construction works, and that area opened to the public in December.
The new seated area around the London Plane tree has been in place since December. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
Phase two was funded with £1 million from the government’s Towns Deal Fund, and saw the existing paving significantly improved, as well as street furniture installed and associated drainage works.
The revamp of the area is now complete. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
The project was done to match the aesthetic of the revamped Cornhill Quarter, and to create a public space for events, pop-ups, or just a nice place to sit for passers-by in the city centre.
Additional seating and street furniture have been added. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
Works were officially completed and construction teams cleared the site for opening on Thursday, August 5, with benches either side of the paving and a wide open area for future events.
The space has been spruced up by the new paving works and kiosk demolition. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
Mark Leason, Contracts Manager at Lindum said: “It’s great to see the work completed. It’s another piece in the jigsaw of improvements that Lindum has carried out around the Cornhill.
“It’s not been an easy job as the site is in the centre of the city. We’ve worked day shifts and night shifts to get it completed with the minimum amount of interruption.
“The shops nearby have been fantastic. They helped us come up with a phasing plan for the work and their staff have been really patient.”
A thank you was in order for the businesses that may have been affected by the works. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “I am very pleased to see the completion of improvement works at this important part of the city centre.
“The area is much improved and now compliments and connects better with the high quality standard of the Sincil Street/Cornhill quarter.”
Exciting plans are in the pipeline for the future of the area. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
The preservation of the existing London Plane tree adds to the aesthetic of the area. | Photo: Stuart Wilde for CoLC
A 39-year-old man has been jailed for two years after a street attack in Newark left another man with a fractured skull and eye socket, and bleeds on the brain.
The victim fell to the floor and hit his head on the road after he was punched to the face by Stephen Chilvers in a violent attack. It happened in Chatham Court in Newark shortly before 11pm on May 2, 2019, following a heated argument between the two men.
Chilvers then continued to punch the man in the face and kicked him in the head before leaving.
Police officers called to the incident provided first aid and stopped the bleeding to the victim’s head by applying several bandages.
The victim was taken to hospital for treatment, which included an operation to attach metal plates to his jaw bone after he sustained a broken jaw.
Following enquiries, police attended an address on Stoke Avenue in Newark during the early hours of the next morning to arrest Chilvers. He was aggressive towards officers and resisted before he was arrested.
Chilvers, of Pierson Street in Newark, was charged on August 3 this year. He then appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.
Inspector Charlotte Allardice, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said: “This was a vicious and prolonged attack which left the victim with serious head injuries. Chilvers continued to attack him while he was lying prone on the floor, landing more punches and kicking him to the head.
“This kind of violent behaviour is totally unacceptable. Nottinghamshire Police takes such reports extremely seriously and will always investigate and look to take robust action against those found to have committed such offences.”
Nottinghamshire Police added that the latest national statistics revealed offences of violence with injury in the county fell by 25% in the 12 months to April 2021.
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