Empty North Kesteven homes could face massive council tax bill

A large sinkhole has emerged in Market Rasen as a result of a damaged sewer pipe which will affect traffic for the rest of the week.

The sinkhole can be found at the side of Gainsborough Road on the A631 in Market Rasen, and Anglian Water have been on site repairing the issue for around a week.

It is around eight square feet, according to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, and Anglian Water are currently working to fix a damaged sewer pipe inside the hole.

To manage traffic, temporary lights have been installed on the road and it is hoped that the works will be complete by the weekend.

An Anglian Water spokesperson said, “Our teams have been working on Gainsborough Road in Market Rasen since last week following an issue with the sewer pipe in the road. The team are currently repairing the pipe and are hoping to have this repaired by the weekend.

“Traffic lights are in place on the road and following the repair and the reinstatement of the road surface we hope to have the road cleared by the beginning of next week.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience while we complete this emergency repair.”

Elsewhere in Market Rasen, King Street is closed due to a delay in overnight works on a water main for a nearby flat, which was allegedly not reported to local authorities for work beyond Tuesday night.

This has affected bus routes and HGV deliveries, which had to turn around upon realising the narrow road was abruptly closed on Wednesday.

Cllr Stephen Bunney, Liberal Democrat member for Lincolnshire County Council as well as West Lindsey District Council and Market Rasen Town Council, said that no notification was given out for the road closure and it has caused severe disruption to traffic in the area.

The Lincolnite has asked Anglian Water for a statement on the King Street incident, which they say is being looked into.

A local family are feline the excitement as they prepare to open their cat cafe in a new location in the uphill area of Lincoln on Friday, and The Lincolnite went for a sneak purr-eview.

Coffee Cats first opened on Silver Street on October 1, 2019. After the impact of the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult to afford the rent and business rates, the Brown family began looking for a new location.

The family-run business has now moved into the premises on The Strait formerly occupied by The Crafty Bottle, which closed last year when the brewing company left the UK for Portugal. Coffee Cats will reopen in its new location on Friday, October 29.

The cafe is run by Stephen Brown and his family, alongside assistant manager Natalia Cossey, and is home to seven cats – Empress Matilda, Snorri, Mark Anthony, Ratatoskr, Alfie, Ethel, and Nicky.

The oldest cat is 17-year-old Snorri, while Nicky is the youngest at just over a year old.

The cafe will be based downstairs and by Christmas the family will open a Viking-themed mead hall in the upstairs area of the premises, with comfy sofas and extra seating.

While getting the new cafe ready and purr-fect for opening day, a high number of people have been spotted excitedly peering through the windows and taking photos of the cats in recent weeks.

Stephen told The Lincolnite: “We are anxious but ready. The cats are looking forward to seeing people too.

“We had so many looking through the window as we were getting ready and the cats will thrive from the extra attention when we open.”

Coffee Cats will be open between 11am and 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Friday-Sunday. Thursdays and evening opening times will be added in the future, along with cat yoga and other events.

The cafe operates on a booking system of £6 for an hour and with an age restriction of 11 and over – make bookings here.

As well as housing the seven adorable cats, the cafe will also serve Stokes Coffee and fresh treats, with vegan and gluten-free options.

Coffee Cats customers and supporters can also sponsor the friendly felines at a price of £5 ‘purr’ cat via the cafe’s website.

More than one person can sponsor each cat and the money raised will go towards the upkeep of the animals, including food, cat litter and vet bills.

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Campaigners in Theddlethorpe have condemned anti-nuke dump vandalism of the village hall which took place ahead of a series of engagement events this week.

Windows and doors have been spray painted by what looks like the XR (Extinction Rebellion) symbol and banners were draped from the roof of the Silver Street facility and nearby fences overnight on Tuesday. A pile of potatoes was also left outside the front door.

A statement from the Guardians of the East Coast (GOTEC), which is campaigning against RWM’s plans for a Geological Disposal Facility, said they were “disheartened and angered” by the “senseless vandalism”.

“GOTEC wholeheartedly condemn the actions taken by this person, or persons. As users of this hall ourselves, this mindless destruction bring no benefit to our cause,” they said.

RWM are hosting a series of engagement events on the facility, starting at the village hall from Wednesday, and GOTEC believes the actions were an attempt to sabotage the meetings which they said many residents were attending.

“We aren’t even campaigning outside these meetings as we want people to go to them,” said the group.

“Any attempts to scupper education and dialogue on the GDF issue cannot be tolerated. We ask anyone with any information to please contact the police.”

Lincolnshire Police confirmed they believed the damaged happened between midnight and 6am.

“We will be investigating this report and ask anyone who has any information to get in touch,” said a spokesman.

Anyone with information should call 101 with incident number 151 of October 27.

An event organised by the group on Sunday saw more than 200 visitors attend to see a presentation on their case against the facility.

“It was really well received and prepared people for the RWM meetings, giving them more confidence,” said the group.

RWM’s Theddlethorpe Working Group chairman Jon Collins said: “We appreciate that feelings are running high and we fully welcome people expressing their views but it’s disappointing that a community facility was targeted. The local team managed to rally round so we’ve been able to open as planned.

“We’ve already met with a number of local residents this morning and we’re starting to answer their questions and understand their concerns. We look forward to further meetings in the days and weeks ahead.

“These community events are the starting point for wider local discussions about geological disposal – and decisions about potentially siting a GDF in Theddlethorpe will be much later in the process and will need explicit community support.”

For anyone wanting to find out more, RWM’s engagement meetings are being held on the below dates and locations:

• Wednesday, October 27, at Theddlethorpe Village Hall (10.30am – 4.30pm).
• Thursday, October 28, at Theddlethorpe Village Hall (10am – 6pm).
• Friday, October 29, at St Mary’s Church Hall, Mablethorpe (10.30am – 4.30pm).
• Tuesday, November 2, at Marshchapel Village Hall (10am – 6.30pm).
• Wednesday, November 3, at Theddlethorpe Village Hall (10.30am – 4.30pm).
• Friday, November 12, at Grimoldby & Manby Village Hall (10.30am – 4.30pm).
• Saturday, November 13, at Theddlethorpe Village Hall (10.30am – 4.30pm).
• Friday, November 19, at Aby Village Hall (10.30am – 6pm).
• Wednesday, November 24, at Legbourne & Little Cawthorpe Community Centre (10am – 4.30pm).
• Thursday, November 25, at Theddlethorpe Village Hall (10am – 6pm).