An aerial view of the ongoing Grantham Southern Relief Road. Photo: Lincolnshire County Council
“The reality is whenever we want to build anything in Lincolnshire we need national support,” said the senior county councillor in charge of highways as the next phase of a multi-million pound relief road was unveiled in Grantham.
It was a stark reminder of how fragile an idea for a new road project can be.
In just two weeks the county has seen an £81 million scheme take a further step in Grantham, but another placed on the shelf in Horncastle.
Residents in the latter had been calling for a bypass for years and local MP Victoria Atkins, raised the issue in 2016.
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The town centre becomes a bottleneck as drivers, often venturing to Skegness or the coast, cars pile up bumper-to-bumper on the A158.
But, council officials have struggled to find funding for the scheme. Councillor Richard Davies, the authority’s highways chief, said it was “unfortunate” that the scheme had to be put on hold.
County council officials stressed that it doesn’t mean that the town will never get a bypass.
Councillor Richard Davies, cabinet member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council. Picture: Calvin Robinson.
But, it shows a problem that raises its head at any local authority.
Councils table plans with the best intentions and then hit a wall when it comes to financing the project or realise that the evidence for the plan does not stack up.
This can be best demonstrated in Perth, Scotland, where both cases came to light on proposals to upgrade the A9 slip road.
Known locally as the Stewart Tower Road, Perth and Kinross Council had proposed spending £750,000 dualling the narrow road in order to relieve congestion.
Visuals of the £120 million Lincoln Eastern Bypass. Picture: Lincolnshire County Council.
But, in July last year, authority officials removed the programme after they said the impact on “future traffic remains unclear” and that the money set aside for the plan was “likely to be insufficient”.
In Lincolnshire a range of projects are hoped to reach a conclusion, albeit with some delayed or over budget, such as Lincoln’s Eastern Bypass.
But others, both in the county and elsewhere, fall victim to a lack of national support.
Horncastle’s bypass may live to see the light of day another time, but at the moment the plan is sitting on a shelf inside county head offices.
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There have been 240 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday and four COVID-19 related deaths across Greater Lincolnshire.
The latest UK coronavirus dashboard figures show 123 cases in Lincolnshire, 68 in North Lincolnshire and 49 in North East Lincolnshire.
It means means there have been 3,349 cases for the month of October.
NHS figures have reported one further deaths at Lincolnshire Community Health Service confirmed on October 19.
Meanwhile, the government’s own death tally, which includes those both in and out of hospitals and those of residents in hospitals outside the county, increased by four.
It includes three Lincolnshire residents and one North East Lincolnshire resident.
How cases have looked since the start of the pandemic. | Image: Public Health England and NHSX
Nationally, cases increased by 21,331 to 762,542, while deaths jumped by 241 to 43,967.
Lincolnshire is currently still on the medium (tier 1) level for the the new three-tier lockdown system of COVID-19 risk, which means it has no extra restrictions on top of the nation-wide ones.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire for Tuesday, October 20
7,941 cases (up 240)
5,223 in Lincolnshire (up 123)
1,662 in North Lincolnshire (up 68)
1,056 in North East Lincolnshire (up 49)
428 deaths (up four)
295 from Lincolnshire (up three)
91 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
42 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)
of which 287 hospital deaths (up one)
153 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
6 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (up one)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
127 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
762,542 UK cases, 43,967 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.
Squirrels in Lincoln were captured having fun with cameras, radios and even miniature shopping trollies.
Colin Bradding, a local photographer, went to Hartsholme Park in the city to capture some footage of the wildlife there, but he found himself even closer than usual to the creatures.
Squirrels were climbing onto his camera lens, exploring the portable radio he brought, and even pushing a tiny shopping trolley with nuts in it.
Why won’t this thing tune! | Photo: Colin Bradding
Trying to get the right angle. | Photo: Colin Bradding
Stay still while I focus the camera. | Photo: Colin Bradding
Just need to check this is still working okay. | Photo: Colin Bradding
Yep, working fine, back to work I go! | Photo: Colin Bradding
Nine more schools and three nurseries in Lincolnshire have positive cases of coronavirus on Tuesday.
Lincolnshire County Council said on October 20 that it is working with 77 schools with COVID-19 infections.
There have been 34 schools with cases in North East Lincolnshire since September, with 13 current active, suspected or confirmed cases. There have been at least six schools with cases in North Lincolnshire.
The latest additions to the list are Carre’s Grammar School (Sleaford), Louth Academy, Boston Grammar School, Hartsholme Academy (Lincoln), Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School, Harlaxton Primary School (Grantham), Holbeach Primary Academy and Priory Pembroke Academy (Cherry Willingham), which all remain open.
Little Learners Pre-School in Lincoln has also been added to the list, but is closed, along with Woodlands Academy (Spilsby), Bassingham Pre-School, Hawthorn Tree School (Boston), Springwell Alternative Academy (Grantham) and St George’s Academy (Ruskington).
Andy Fox, consultant in public health, said: “As of this Tuesday, Lincolnshire’s Health Protection Team is currently working with 77 schools that have had confirmed cases of coronavirus.
“All schools are taking action to limit the potential spread of the virus, with some pupils and staff self-isolating as a precaution where necessary.”
Bishop Grosseteste University has three students who are currently self-isolating due to a positive test result. Eight students are currently self-isolating with suspected symptoms and waiting to be tested or to receive a test a result.
Schools with current confirmed cases (new in bold at the top):
Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford
Louth Academy
Boston Grammar School
Hartsholme Academy, Lincoln
Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School
Harlaxton Primary School, Grantham
Holbeach Primary Academy
Priory Pembroke Academy, Cherry Willingham
Little Learners Pre-School, Lincoln (closed)
Lincoln College
Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough
Hackthorn Primary School
Kesteven and Sleaford High School
Somercotes Academy, North Somercotes
Lincoln Castle Academy
Lincoln Carlton Academy
Bluecoat Meres Academy, Grantham
Dunholme St Chad’s Primary School
Kesteven and Grantham Girls School
Hogsthorpe Primary Academy
Bassingham Pre-School (closed)
Barrowby Primary School
Billingborough Primary School
The Priory Academy LSST
Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham
Boston College
Hawthorn Tree School, Boston (closed)
Caistor Yarborough Academy
Haven High Academy, Boston
Malcolm Sargent Primary School, Stamford
St George’s Academy, Sleaford
St Peter and St Paul Academy, Lincoln
Kirkstone House School, Baston
Stamford Endowed Schools
Manor Leas Junior School, Lincoln
St Hugh’s Catholic Primary, Lincoln
Ermine Academy, Lincoln
St Giles Academy, Lincoln
Branston Community College Academy
Grantham College
Kelsey Primary School
Birchwood Junior School, Lincoln
Great Steeping Primary School, Spilsby
Walton Academy, Grantham
Wragby Primary School
Woodlands Academy, Spilsby (closed)
Skegness Academy
Blyton Cum Laughton Primary School
Castle Wood Academy, Gainsborough
The King’s School, Grantham
Westgate Academy, Lincoln
William Farr School, Welton, Lincoln
Sir William Robertson Academy, Welbourn, Lincoln
Kisimul School Acacia Hall, Freisthorpe
Leslie Manser Primary, Lincoln
Lincoln St Christopher’s Special School
Long Sutton Primary School
Market Deeping Community Primary
Springwell Alternative Academy, Grantham (closed)
St Nicholas Primary, Boston
Community Learning in Partnership, Gainsborough
Grantham Preparatory International School
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Horncastle
St Michael’s Primary School, Thorpe on the Hill
University Academy Long Sutton
Denton Primary School, Grantham
Bridge House Independent School, Boston
Charles Read Academy, Grantham
De Aston School, Market Rasen
The Lancaster School, Lincoln
The St Sebastian Primary School, Grantham
Waddington All Saints Academy
Bourne Academy
Claypole Primary School
St George’s Academy, Ruskington (closed)
Swinderby All Saints Primary School
University Academy Holbeach
Public Health are also aware of the following six nurseries with positive cases (new in bold at the top):
Little Learners Nursery, Skegness
Nutwood Day Nursery, Lincoln
Clarence House Day Nursery, Grantham
Town and Country Kiddies Nursery, Louth
Seashells Nursery, Mablethorpe
Angels Childcare, Lincoln
North East Lincolnshire
There have been 34 schools and education settings with confirmed cases of coronavirus in North East Lincolnshire since September.
There are currently 13 with current active suspected or confirmed cases, although this figure does not include pre-schools/alternative settings.
The following schools, academies and colleges have recorded confirmed COVID-19 cases since September (figures correct as of October 19 with the current suspected or confirmed cases in bold):
Stallingborough Junior and Infant School
Lisle Marsden Academy
Tollbar Academy
Grimsby Institute
Middlethorpe Primary Academy
Signhills Infant Academy
Ormiston Maritime Academy
Cleethorpes Academy
Franklin College
Great Coates Primary
Healing Science Academy
Humberston Academy
William Barcroft Junior School
Humberston CE Primary School
Phoenix Park Academy
John Whitgift Academy
Saint James’s School
Western Primary School
Fairfield Primary Academy
Sevenhills Academy
Signhills Academy
Havelock Academy
Weelsby Academy
Laceby Acres Academy
Scartho Infants
There is also one further school with an active suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case, but it has not yet been publicly named.
In addition, there are also seven pre-school/alternative settings that have had cases since the start of September.
North Lincolnshire
There have been at least six schools with cases in North Lincolnshire since term restarted in September.
In addition, John Leggott College in Scunthorpe has also had a positive case of coronavirus.
However, North Lincolnshire Council said it was unable to provide data regarding schools in the region with coronavirus cases.
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