The county’s highways chief has said the authority “simply doesn’t have the funding for major improvements” to a Crowland Junction where four people have died since 2010.
It follows Lincolnshire Coroner Tim Brennand’s fears more people could die if changes are not made to what he called the “dangerous and confusing” island junction where the B1166 Huts Drove and James Road meet the trunk road of the A16.
During an inquest into the death of 48-year-old motorcyclist Matthew Bilby, the fourth fatality since the road opened in 2010, Mr Brennand said he would be writing to the Government and Lincolnshire County Council.
Welcoming the coroner’s support in raising the issue with the Department for Transport, LCC’s executive member for highways Councillor Richard Davies said: “We are well aware of the concerns about the junction, but we simply don’t have the funding for major improvements.”
Councillor Richard Davies, executive councillor for highways.
He said the authority had responded to the speed factor in many collisions by installing average speed cameras and reactive signs.
“This has made to a significant difference to speeds at the junction, and we are currently assessing the impact this has had on collision rates,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation, and would encourage motorists to take extra care when navigating the junction.”
The view of the junction. described as “dangerous, from Hulls Drove
During the inquest last week, Mr Brennand commended the efforts of the passers-by adding: “I have an erstwhile hope that action is taken to prevent anything like this happening again. I hope that Matthew’s death will not be in vain.”
Mr Bilby, of Jubilee Way, Crowland, killed when he rode into the path of a lorry on September 6 last year.
He had been en route to a training course at his workplace – Princes’ factory in Long Sutton – when the collision happened at just before 8am.
Mr Brennand noted that since he had taken up his position on November 5 last year there had been 24 serious collisions on Lincolnshire’s roads resulting in 26 fatalities and urged drivers to apply guidance in the Highway Code, particularly to not join a main road before there’s a gap large enough to do so safely.
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Family-run The Pet Vet will open a new surgery at the Carlton Centre in Lincoln on Friday.
The ribbon to officially open the new 5,500 square foot independent surgery will be cut by members of Lincoln City Football Club at 2.30pm on Friday, October 29. Local animal charities and businesses, and even the fire service, will attend the opening day.
The Lincoln surgery is fully equipped with seven consultation rooms, three operating theatres, a dental theatre, and imaging suite, separate dog and cat words, and vast amounts of parking.
The Pet Vet already has established surgeries in Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham, with Lincoln part of a plan to expand across the region. The surgeries are all equipped with the latest technology, including CT scanning capabilities.
In addition to general practise and preventative healthcare, The Pet Vet also offers advanced care in orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and dentistry.
The Lincoln surgery is offering all new customers a free first consultation and half price vaccinations until the end of 2021.
A care home near Lincoln will close due to difficulties recruiting care and management staff.
The Old Rectory in Saxilby, which was rated ‘Good’ this year by the Care Quality Commission, is in the process of rehoming the 18 residents before it closes its doors.
It is working with Lincolnshire County Council officials to do so.
Some 32 staff, and remaining residents, were informed of the decision this week. Some staff will move to the sister home Wispington House Care Home in the village.
Owners, who have run the facility since 2012, said continuous pressures on recruiting care staff and management positions made it impossible to stay open.
The home will remain open until a place can be found for all residents
Owner Brij Patel said during the past two years there has been “a rise in external influences which have made it increasingly difficult to sustain high standards – with the near impossibility of recruiting and retaining care and management staff compounded by Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“We have worked tirelessly during the 18 past months to overcome various difficulties,” he said. “But regrettably, unsuccessfully, and now unfortunately this has left us in a position without any alternative but to close the home.
“This is not a decision that we took lightly, and we fully appreciate that this will come as a shock and disappointment to our staff, our residents and their loved ones. We are however, committed to manage the process as smoothly and fairly as possible.
“We can now focus our staff, resources and expertise on Wispington House and ensure that we deliver the quality of care the residents and their families deserve.”
The decision comes days after the Care Quality Commission released a report revealing that health and social care services are “under greater strain than ever”.
The report said care workers are suffering under a tidal wave of “anxiety, stress, exhaustion and burnout” post COVID-19.
Across England, numbers of unfilled jobs are rising month on month, the researchers found, from 6% in April to more than 10% in September.
The Government recently announced a new £162.5 million workforce retention and recruitment fund to bolster the dedicated care workforce – but critics say it may too little too late.
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