Rail freight upgrade after over £15m investment

Coronavirus infection rates in Greater Lincolnshire have dropped in the past week, despite a number of districts climbing the rankings nationally.

As of Tuesday’s government figures, Lincoln is currently the district with the highest infection rate, however, its figure of 653.6 per 100,000 population is far below previous top players.

For instance, last Tuesday, North East Lincolnshire sat sixth highest with an infection rate of 908.7, but this week is 13th, having slashed its rate by nearly half to 471.3.

In fact, Lincoln and North Kesteven are the only districts to have increased their infection rates, with the former last Tuesday sitting at 397.8 and the latter going from 290 to 402.

Despite the decreases from the rest of the county, all but two districts sit in the top 200 compared to last week when all but North East Lincolnshire were below that figure.

All this means is the region is seeing a decline at a slower rate than the rest of the country.

As a whole, the Greater Lincolnshire region has seen its infection rate decrease from 414.2 to 334.2.

Nationally, England’s seven-day infection rate has gone from 499.4 last Tuesday, to 292.4 this week.

Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to August 3. | Image: Daniel Jaines/Data: Gov.uk

The latest government figures, released on Tuesday evening, confirmed 396 new coronavirus cases, with 272 in Lincolnshire, 60 in North East Lincolnshire and 64 in North Lincolnshire.

Five deaths were confirmed in the government figures, which include both those in and out of hospital, while four were confirmed in Lincolnshire’s hospitals.

In national news on Wednesday morning, jabs are set to be offered for 16 and 17-year-olds. Previously only those with underlying conditions or living with vulnerable adults were allowed to have them.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is expected to recommend the change in plans later today.

It would see around 1.4 million teenagers become eligible to receive their first doses.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday, August 3

82,835 cases (up 396)

• 54,144 in Lincolnshire (up 272)
• 12,718 in North Lincolnshire (up 64)
• 15,973 in North East Lincolnshire (up 60)

2,223 deaths (up five)

• 1,633 from Lincolnshire (up two)
• 305 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
• 285 from North East Lincolnshire (up three)

of which 1,331 hospital deaths (up four)

• 822 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up one)
• 43 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 465 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up three)

5,923,820 UK cases, 129,881 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.

Councillors have paid tribute to the former leader of West Lindsey District Council, Reg Shore, who has died after a short illness.

Reg Shore, who served the council for the Stow Ward from May 1999, died on Friday, July 23.

He held the position of leader from 2006 to 2008/09 before choosing to retire from politics in May 2019. He was also previously an executive member of Lincolnshire County Council.

Reg touched and shaped many lives in and around Gainsborough and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

Councillor Trevor Young encouraged Reg to get into politics and join the Liberal Democrat group as he was already an active member of the community, supporting the Christmas panto and more.

He said: “Reg supported so many people especially young people and many of them went on to have successful careers and it was Reg who inspired them.

“He loved people and he could always see something in individuals, the positives, even when they could not see it themselves at first. He would always get the best out of them. There will be hundreds of people in Gainsborough who have a story of how Reg helped them.

“In my opinion Reg was the hardest working councillor that West Lindsey District Council ever had. He had such a broad skillset, he was good at speeches, very organised and great working with partners regardless of politics.

“I hope we will see some legacy of young people getting into politics due to the work he had put in to them.”

Councillor Matt Boles knew Reg for more than 25 years, first as his teacher then as a work colleague at Cassies school in Gainsborough and then at Trent Valley Academy as a fellow councillor and friend.

He said: “Like many hundreds of young people across Gainsborough I’m privileged to have met Reg and for him to have been able to positively influence my life.

“Without his help, advice and support I certainly would not be doing what I am in politics today. Reg one was of the first to encourage me to stand as a town councillor 12 years ago.

“He gave me the confidence and support to do this, he was always there with support and guidance giving me the tools and support to then get elected to West Lindsey District Council and Lincolnshire County Council, all of which I still use. Even after moving to France he was only ever a phone call or email away and always there to help or just give you the reassuring confidence boost.”

Councillor Owen Bierley, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “He was a most able and committed colleague who not only led the council during a time of considerable challenge and change, but was also held in the highest esteem throughout the chamber and in the community.

“My thoughts are with his family and friends and indeed all those whose lives have been touched by Reg through his political and professional contribution and work.”

Team GB and Shona McCallin’s quest to retain the Olympic gold medal in the women’s hockey event has come to an end, after a 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the semi-final.

The reigning champions from Rio 2016 were searching for Olympic glory once again in Tokyo, but missed out on a place in the gold medal match after the Netherlands beat GB comfortably on Wednesday morning.

Shona McCallin from Newark was one of the gold medalists from the last games, but the 26-year-old could not help guide the team to the final this year.

All medal hopes are not yet lost for Team GB, however, as they will now prepare for a bronze medal match against either Argentina or India on Friday.

The match was seen as revenge for the Dutch, who were beaten in a penalty shootout in the gold medal match against Team GB in Rio five years ago, and they will now face the winner of the other semi-final for their chance at gold.

The Netherlands are the number one ranked hockey team in the world, and they showed all their quality as they swept aside the 2016 Olympic champions.