Dick Appleton with his daughter Sophie outside Grimsby Town Hall after a motion to save the community learning service in the town was rejected. Picture: Calvin Robinson.
Campaigners said the closure of a number of disabled and adult learning programmes in Grimsby was treated “as a political issue” and that councillors behaved like they were “in a kids’ playground”.
The service, which is based at the town’s Skills Hub, teaches between 400 and 700 people and a 2,800 signature petition was submitted to the council in an effort to save the centre.
Conservative council leader, Philip Jackson, said he felt “satisfied” that the last Labour administration “took the right decision” to close the facility.
But, Dick Appleton, whose 45-year-old autistic daughter Sophie attends the school, said the closure of the service was treated as a “political issue”.
Sophie Appleton, 45, uses the skills hub on Freeman Street. She is pictured with a banner campaigners are hoping to take to Grimsby Town Hall tomorrow. Photo: supplied
“You have heard it here tonight with the amount of back biting, it was like being in a kids’ playground,” he said.
“Nobody was prepared to listen and that was the reason the previous council were kicked out by the voters, because they proved to be a non-listening council.
“The request was ‘you show that you are a listening council’ and they are not.”
Mr Appleton described the service as the town’s “best kept secret” and that his daughter has benefited from being taught differently to mainstream educational establishments.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m just a concerned parent of an autistic person who can’t speak for herself and who needs to find alternative education of the quality that she has been receiving,” said Mr Appleton.
The Skills Hub, which is based on Freeman Street in the town, is earmarked to close a number of its programmes by the authority at the end of the academic year.
The Community Learning Skills Hub on Freeman Street run by North East Lincolnshire Council. Another on Brighowgate, is run by Navigo, not the authority. Photo: Google
The centre teaches people with special education, mental or physical needs in GCSEs, job skills and learning English as a second language.
Labour leader of the opposition, Councillor Matthew Patrick, called on the authority to halt the closure and to “keep an open mind” about the service.
He acknowledged that the decision to close the service was made under the last Labour council, but added that “new information had come to light” and urged the council to look again at the decision.
“What the service offers to our community is a second chance to those who might struggle to get one,” he said.
“All educational establishments aim to improve people’s lives, but in the case of the community learning service, they are the unsung heroes.”
Councillor John Fenty, cabinet member for regeneration, skills and housing at North East Lincolnshire Council. Picture: North East Lincolnshire Council.
But, Councillor John Fenty, cabinet member for regeneration, skills and housing, said Labour was giving “false hope” to petitioners and that the service was failing.
He added that learners would be “better served” at facilities elsewhere in Grimsby.
“I deeply care that whatever decision is made that learners and those that need the most help have good education provision,” he said.
The council said the move to close the service had been “a complex decision, giving consideration to the many significant challenges that the service has had to face over a number of years”.
It added that the hub itself will remain open and in use by some services, including the National Careers Service.
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Excitement is building as Taco Bell will open the first of their two new Lincoln restaurants next month, with the second to follow within a matter of a weeks.
The Lincolnite understands the uphill Taco Bell is set to open on August 17, with the chain’s second Lincoln branch – on the High Street – opening around three weeks later.
Taylor Lindsey was granted planning permission in February this year to turn the former Pizza Hut on Nettleham Road into a drive-thru version of the Mexican-inspired fast food chain, which will open daily between 11am to 11pm.
Workers remain on site at Taco Bell’s new restaurant on Nettleham Road in Lincoln. | Photo: Leanne Crawford for The Lincolnite
In a planning statement, Taco Bell previously said the restaurant will create 25 full-time and 30 part-time jobs.
The second Taco Bell will open in the unit formerly occupied by Everest Xpress Nepalese and Indian takeaway on lower High Street, which has since relocated.
The planning application for the second Taco Bell restaurant, submitted to City of Lincoln Council by Raja Adil of Lionacre Properties, was given the green light in March this year.
There are two Taco Bells in Lincolnshire at the moment, in Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe.
The No. XIII Squadron at RAF Waddington has been presented with a new Squadron Standard, which is only the third in its 106 year history.
The Squadron Standard is a flag with the Squadron badge and battle honours listed upon it. Squadron Standards were introduced in 1943 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.
The XIII Squadron (the Stabbed Cats) has a motto of “We assist by watching” and has a history dating back to 1915. The Squadron in its current guise stood up as the first UK based Reaper Squadron in 2012, with its first operational mission in April 2013.
The Squadron provides real-time surveillance and reconnaissance in support of frontline troops.
The No. XIII Squadron at RAF Waddington with the new Squadron Standard. | Photo: UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021
The Standard was presented by Deputy Commander of Operations, Air Marshal Gerry Mayhew, at a formal parade at RAF Waddington on Thursday, which included a Typhoon flypast provided by RAF Coningsy. The Standard was consecrated by The Venerable (Air Vice Marshal) John R Ellis QHC.
The formal presentation and parade of the new 13 Squadron Standard took place on July 29, 2021 at RAF Waddington. | Photo: UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021
XIII Squadron paraded at RAF Waddington to receive their new Standard. | Photo: UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021
A Squadron has “to have been of 25 years standing or to have earned to Monarch’s appreciation through exceptionally outstanding operations” to qualify.
Air Marshal Mayhew, a former Commanding Officer of XIII Squadron, was the parade Reviewing Officer with Officer Commanding XIII Squadron, Wg Cdr Ferris, the Parade Commander.
Marching during the formal parade at RAF Waddington. | Photo: UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021
Wing Commander Ferris said: “XIII Squadron’s Standard parade is a proud moment for us all where we can reflect on our history as well as looking forward to our future.
“This event gives the Squadron personnel and their families a chance to acknowledge the vital operational contribution the Squadron continues to provide, thank those that support us and celebrate appropriately after months of operating under Covid-19 restrictions.”
The No. XIII Squadron at RAF Waddington was presented with only the third Squadron Standard in its 106 year history. | Photo: UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021
Air Marshall Mayhew, Deputy Commander Operations, performed the Reviewing Officer role and presented the new Standard to XIII Sqn. | Photo: UK MOD Crown Copyright 2021
North Kesteven District Council are once again investigating complaints of unpleasant smells, loud noises and black residue pollution that continue to plague the village of Skellingthorpe near Lincoln.
On this occasion, the operating company says the dead animals brought via lorries to the rendering plant are causing the unpleasant smell, as stock accumulates at the facility — and warm summer temperatures are not helping the situation either.
Residents in the village, particularly on Jerusalem Road, have been frustrated by the issue for over two years due to the smell and noise coming from the factory run by A Hughes & Son — earning it the nickname of Smelly Skelly.
A black soot-like substance coming from the nearby animal rendering plant since at least last summer was reported to the district council and A Hughes & Son. More recently, a concerned resident contacted The Lincolnite about the air being “absolutely sickening this week and totally unbreathable today [Thursday].”
He said he exchanged emails with the environmental health team at the district council, who told him they already received a number of complaints regarding the odour in Skellingthorpe over the last three days.
The matter is being investigated by the council, who have visited the area with A Hughes & Son. The firm told The Lincolnite the council reportedly claimed the site was operating in accordance with its permit conditions.
Several residents in Skellingthorpe found their cars covered in the black soot like substance.
Alan Asker, Operations Manager at A Hughes & Son, said: “The hot weather has affected product being transported to the site which is outside our control.
“The UK rendering industry is unable to fully control odour generated from material carried in lorries, in much the same way the council cannot control odour from a refuse collection vehicle.
“All our providers of transport are registered and comply with the animal by-products regulations.
“A recent inspection from the NKDC Environmental Heath Team confirmed the site was operating in accordance with it permit conditions.”
A spokesperson for the council said: “We are aware, we are investigating and we have visited locally. There’s a lot of information to process and a further update will be given to those who have contacted us in the near future.”
Plans for the new animal by-products processing plant in Skellingthorpe.
In February this year, plans were unanimously approved to demolish the existing animal by-products processing plant and build a new processing plant at the farm on Jerusalem Road. The site is owned by Leo Group and run by A Hughes & Son, a company which was bought by Lincoln Proteins Ltd.
Meanwhile, we reported in May that Lincolnshire County Council will consider the re-submitted application for a controversial animal rendering plant in nearby Norton Disney.
Lincoln Proteins Ltd resubmitted their planning application for the facility at Villa Farm on Folly Lane after it was previously refused in February 2020 by Lincolnshire County Council amid concerns over heritage and location. Previous plans also prompted protests by residents who campaigned to “say no to the stink”.
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