Local businesses have tried to offer their support
Hoards of local Thomas Cook customers remain in the dark about what will happen with their holidays and flights after Thomas Cook’s collapse put honeymoons and vacations into jeopardy.
On top of this, people whose flights were booked with the company are now finding that replacement deals are as much as triple the price.
Thomas Cook entered Compulsory Liquidation on Monday, September 23. The UK business ceased trading and all future flights and holidays were cancelled.
Repatriation is underway under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which said all flights would be replaced.
The Lincoln High Street shop sits empty. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite
Anyone who bought future package holidays with the company is covered by the Air Travel Organiser’s License scheme (Atol), meaning the cost of their holiday will be refunded, but this doesn’t cover flight only deals. Refunds for these will have to be claimed back though travel insurance, credit or debit cards.
While customers review refund timelines and the sharply rising cost of alternative flights, cancellations and disappointment are on the cards.
As previously reported, staff at nine Thomas Cook shops in Lincolnshire, including the two-year old Cornhill unit in Lincoln, will lose their jobs after the airline collapsed. However, the exact number of jobs lost has not yet been made public by Thomas Cook.
Simon Redgrave, who was due to be going on his honeymoon to the Maldives in November, told The Lincolnite:
“We have unfortunately been a part of the Thomas Cook collapse as we had our honeymoon booked with them. Now, due to this, we are now unable to book another honeymoon without receiving a refund.
“We woke up to the news (on Monday). Unfortunately we haven’t been told anything. We have just researched online and the refund process can take up to 60 days which would be after our wedding. The whole package was booked with them. You’re unable to speak to them and unable to get through to the CAA.”
Britain’s oldest travel firm confirmed a dedicated booking service is being provided by The Civil Aviation Authority to assist customers currently overseas and those in the UK with future bookings – click here for more information.
The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority are working together to support passengers due to fly back to the UK with Thomas Cook between September 23 and October 6, 2019, in what is the UK CAA’s biggest ever peacetime repatriation.
Gaynor Bateman said: “We were due to fly to Vegas on October 13 for best friend’s wedding…but it gets worse. The bride has worked for Thomas Cook for 18 years.”
Jo-sly Hunt said: “Our daughter works for TC abroad in Zante and me and a friend were flying with them in October. Gutted for everyone that’s lost there jobs.”
Sandra Roberts Was Andrews said: “I had two holidays booked for next year and my sister has lost her job. She has worked for Thomas Cook for well over 25 years.”
Gav Brown said: “We were due to go to Vegas next month for my mate’s wedding.”
Amy Ward said: “Honeymoon cancelled”
Eddie Driver said: “Currently in turkey with Thomas Cook. Due to fly home on Thursday. Not sure what will happen with transfers and flights. Feel sorry for all the people who have booked and lost their holiday. Plus so many jobs lost as well.”
I am one of those Thomas Cook customers enjoying a beautiful bit of Europe at the moment. We’ll get sorted…but those 1000’s of UK jobs….. pic.twitter.com/KWlUPFQ4tg
— Neil Everatt (@Neil_Everatt) September 23, 2019
Paul Pyrah said: “My eldest son was one of the lucky ones. He flew back from Orlando around midnight. It was Thomas Cook’s very last flight. He said the crew on board were crying and all in tears.”
Wayne Pyrah added: “It was a very quiet sad flight home, I really felt for the crew. How they managed to make announcements and keep the service up I just don’t know how they did it. Very emotional.”
The Original Bierkeller Lincoln was among the local businesses to offer support to those affected by Thomas Cook’s collapse.
It said any Thomas Cook Airlines UK staff can get free entry and some free drinks if they bring last month’s payslip down this weekend. It added that a small number of part-time positions are available and “we’ll help where we can”.
Lincoln City FC is offering local Thomas Cook employees free coach travel and free tickets for Friday’s trip to Blackpool “as a small gesture to show our support”.
Thomas Cook employees must email [email protected] to secure their free bus and match tickets by Thursday at 3pm, providing proof of employment.
Fewer cases but more deaths this week
There have been 1,643 new coronavirus cases and 83 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire this week – compared to 1,670 cases and 71 deaths last week.
Some 304 new cases and 17 deaths were reported in Greater Lincolnshire on Friday – the third day in a row with 17 deaths.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 252 new cases in Lincolnshire, 28 in North Lincolnshire and 24 in North East Lincolnshire.
On Friday, 14 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two in North East Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported six new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, four at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and one at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals. Some 51 hospital deaths have been recorded this week, compared to 48 last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 40,261 to 3,583,907, while deaths rose by 1,401 to 95,981.
Lincolnshire health bosses estimate that 80-90% of new coronavirus cases in the county are now a mutant, more infectious strain of COVID.
Figures earlier this week said that by January 8, 59.2% of cases had confirmed the new virus — up from 36% by the end of 2020 — and now county leaders estimate the number to be even higher.
The COVID mutation that has taken over most new cases in Lincolnshire is not only more infectious, but also more deadly, it has been revealed.
NHS bosses are hoping to offer all care homes in Lincolnshire the first COVID vaccine dose by the end of the week. This comes as almost 5.4 million people have received jabs nationally.
Director of Nursing at Lincolnshire CCG Martin Fahy told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that about three quarters has been completed so far.
A single week in December saw Lincolnshire deaths reach 13 times the yearly average, explained local health bosses frustrated with COVID deniers.
Lincolnshire County Council’s Director of Public Health Professor Derek Ward explained that the week including December 14 would usually see an average of 23 deaths, but 2020 say 301 deaths that week.
In national news, there are no plans to pay everyone in England who tests positive for COVID-19 £500 to self-isolate, No 10 has said.
The PM’s official spokesman said there was already a £500 payment available for those on low incomes who could not work from home and had to isolate.
The coronavirus R number in the UK has fallen sharply since last week, suggesting the lockdown is slowing the spread of coronavirus.
The R, which refers to the number of people that an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to, is between 0.8 and 1 across the UK, according to the figures released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass the virus on to between eight and 10 others.
Lincoln City has taken the top spot with the highest infection rate in Greater Lincolnshire.
This week saw South Holland at the top which was put down to two outbreaks in care homes with up to 100 cases. South Holland has now dropped to third place in the region.
Greater Lincolnshire still remains way below the national average infection rate of 472.9, with just 217.3 per 100,000 of the population.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate over the last seven days up to January 22 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 15 to Jan 22. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
45,645 cases (up 304)
1,760 deaths (up 17)
of which 1,047 hospital deaths (up 11)
3,583,907 UK cases, 95,981 deaths
The charity project turned into a business
A Lincoln couple will reopen their independent pizzeria at a new location on Friday night, with an array of main and signature pizzas and Belgian waffles.
Weirdough’s Pizza Emporium will open at Tap & Spile on Hungate from 5pm on Friday, January 22, but it initially started out as a charity project making Neo-Neapolitan pizzas.
Husband and wife team Matt and Rachel Barnes have lived in Lincoln for around five years and last year they wanted to do something to raise money for the NHS.
Matt starting to prepare a pizza. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Kneading the dough. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Matt used to work at a Lincoln school, but they were closed to most pupils for a few weeks in March, so he started working on a project and Weirdoughs Pizza Emporium was born.
It was initially run from The West End Tap from the end of last summer, but in January the pub announced it would not reopen again under its current management, so Weirdoughs had to find a new premises.
The base ready for the next stage of the pizza making. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Matt putting the pizza into the oven. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The tasty pizza in the oven. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Adding the finishing touches to the pizza. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
All profits made from the food sold – just under £2,000 – went to the NHS. The couple also did some drop offs at the coronavirus ward at Lincoln County Hospital.
Matt was made redundant at the end of May and Rachel was due to give birth four weeks after that.
It was a hectic time for the couple as Rachel, who works at a primary school in Peterborough, would be on maternity leave and Matt would soon have no income.
The Margz main pizza – San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Weirdough – San Marzano tomatoes, parmesan, Emmental, mozzarella, red onions, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, spicy Nduja sausage, rocket, balsamic glaze and garlic drizzle. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As the pizzas were working so well and following feedback from customers, the couple decided to turn it into a business.
Dan Neale, who previously ran the West End Tap, has joined the Weirdoughs team of four as a pizza chef.
Or why not try a Create Your Own Weirdoughs Waffle? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The dough is homemade 24 hours ahead to make their special main and signature pizzas, while customers can also order a create your own Weirdoughs waffle.
The Belgian waffles come with a variety of toppings such as Kinder Bueno, Crunchie, and Galaxy Caramel, with sauces including white and milk chocolate, salted caramel and toffee, with ice cream.
Weirdoughs will open Friday to Sunday 5pm-9pm and Wednesday to Thursday 5pm-8pm for takeaway or delivery.
Pre-ordering is advised via Facebook or Instagram or by calling 07734 297 035, with the latter option preferred if it is after 4.30pm.
Owner Matt Barnes will help meet your pizza needs. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Delivery is available to the following areas: Ermine, St Giles, Monks Road, High Street, Bailgate, Boultham, West End and the city centre.
Weirdoughs will try and accommodate other areas too, but it may incur additional charges, while the takeaway will also be joining Uber Eats in the near future.
Weirdoughs will be based inside the Tap & Spile pub in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Once pubs are allowed to reopen again, customers at the Tap & Spile will able to order Weirdoughs food straight to their table and Matt said he can’t wait for people to able to experience it that way.
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