Marshall's Yard, in Gainsborough, where West Lindsey District Council is based. Photo: Daniel Jaines
Building a vibrant town centre, improving roads, and tackling crime and antisocial behaviour are on the list of challenges Gainsborough people want to see dealt with ahead of the local elections.
All of West Lindsey District Council’s 36 seats are up for election next month, however, the Conservatives are already four uncontested seats ahead of the game with a dramatic loss of at least 12 seats needed to swing the ward.
Ahead of the big day, locals have been expressing their views on what needs to be the focus of campaigns, ranging from parking to entertaining young people.
People said the council should be taking the lead from places like Marshall’s Yard.
Paul Rowse, 61, from Kexby, said the town centre needed to be more attractive and regenerated.
West Lindsey District Council
“We’re here in this area [Marshall’s Yard] and it’s quite nice, but onwards, towards the town centre, its run down and derelict.
“They need to start looking at ways of using the town centre. In many buildings the upstairs is empty, they could be converted into residential properties.”
Healso called for free parking to be increased from 30 minutes free to at least an hour, saying the current limit “doesn’t give you time to do anything”.
Gainsborough mum Ruth Smith, 36, said she felt concerned about an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour being reported around the town.
She called for more for young people to do: “If you look at it, really, here [Marshall’s Yard] is really lovely, but anywhere else in Gainsborough there’s nothing really for children to do. It’s just hanging around for them.”
Empty shops were included as some of Gainsborough’s residents’ concerns.
She also wanted councils to help tackle employment levels adding: “My partner took three months non stop hunting to find a job, sending out so many applications.”
Lynn Gaffney, also from Gainsborough, uses a mobility scooter and called for more to be done to repair the paths.
“Some you go over and it’s a bone shaker,” she said.
“We also need far more drop curbs. Sometimes I have to go to the top of the street, turn around and then come back down just to cross a road.”
She hoped councils would also reverse a decision to switch off street-lights at midnight, adding that her area was in “pitch black”.
“Since the lights went out it feels like there’s been a lot more crime around here,” she added.
Gainsborough street scene. Photo: Daniel Jaines
Others raised concerns over the number of potholes and public transport.
A number of people who spoke to Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Jaines were angered by the national debate surrounding Brexit and said they had been put off voting for any party in May.
Ms Smith said the issue was distracting governments and councils from dealing with other important issues.
“There are so many underprivileged people at the moment and everybody’s getting thrown into a benefits system that’s not fit for purpose,” she said.
“With Brexit I don’t think there’s enough money in the country. They’re not looking at the local priorities and issues.
“When I look at my little boy growing up that’s something that terrifies me.”
Gainsborough street scene. Photo: Daniel Jaines
The authority is currently Tory led, with the party holding 24 seats, the Liberal Democrats seven, Labour three and Independents two.
Four of the leading party, Bruce Allison and Pat Mewis (both Scotter and Blyton), Gillian Bardsley (Gainsborough North), and Hugo Marfleet (Market Rasen), are not competing for seats this time round.
Two of the three Labour candidates – Mick Devine and Richard Oaks (both of Gainsborough East) – have also gone independent in their fights.
Liberal Democrat Reg Shore will also leave his seat in Stow – though it has been picked up uncontested seats by Conservative Tracey Coulson.
The other three uncontested seats are Scampton (Roger Patterson – Conservative), Sudbrooke (Bob Waller – Conservative) and Wold View (Tom Regis – Conservative).
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The 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrested in the murder probe of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln have both been released on police bail, without any charges.
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman on suspicion of manslaughter after an incident at a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln.
Police were called to the house at 10pm on Friday night, January 22.
The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
At the time Lincolnshire Police said the death was unexplained and it was treated as murder.
The man and the woman arrested at the weekend were released on police bail on Monday evening.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Monday night:
“Once again, we’d like to remind people that this is an active investigation and that an 11-year-old boy has sadly lost his life.
“Speculative comments are not only deeply upsetting to those involved but can potentially undermine our investigation.
“If you have any information that can help, call 101 or email [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.”
Ten people from Boston have been given fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations by driving dangerously in supermarket car parks.
Officers were called after three separate reports of dangerous driving in the car parks of Lidl and Tesco in Wyberton Fen, as well as on Marsh Lane Industrial Estate in Boston.
All three incidents took place and were reported to police between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, January 24, though it is unsure if they were connected at all.
When officers arrived, the drivers were seen doing donut manoeuvres and racing in the snow.
A total of 10 people were given £200 fines for breaking lockdown guidelines, but this will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, due to all being first time offenders.
As well as the COVID-19 fines, two of the vehicles were also seized as a result of being uninsured, with drivers reported.
A traffic offence report was also submitted after one driver was seen to be driving not just dangerously but out of control.
Inspector Fran Harrod of Lincolnshire Police said: “We would like to thank the public for bringing these incidents of dangerous driving to our attention.
“This is not only extremely dangerous to those taking part but to others in these areas.
“While we continue to engage and explain with the public, this was a blatant breach of the restrictions which will not be tolerated.”