Angry residents attended a meeting on the Nunsthorpe Estate to air their concerns over a proposed travellers site. Photo: Daniel Jaines
A public meeting about travellers’ sites has heard threats of “World War Three” in Grimsby, as angry residents said they would make the potential tenants feel “very unwelcome”.
People living on the Nunsthorpe Estate, which has two sites on North East Lincolnshire’s shortlist, attended a meeting organised by South ward Councillor Jane Bramley to air their views.
Councillor Bramley said the sites on Wootton Road and Winchester Avenue were “absolutely ridiculous” because they were either side of a new housing estate.
She had concerns over the nearby residents’ safety, particularly those of the care facility currently under construction.
She raised fears of clashes between residents and the tenants and said that she had told those in charge of the decision that: “If you put them on here it’s going to be World War Three. There’s going to be out-and-out war and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”
Councillor Jane Bramley addresses the meeting. Photo: Daniel Jaines
She feared petrol bombs were already being prepared.
Councillor Bramley told residents the 15-peg site would see travellers pay £14 a night and would be restricted to 14 day stays, however, residents responded with scepticism over whether they would leave the site after that time and how it would be policed.
She added previous conversations with traveller groups left her feeling the community itself would prefer another solution on the outskirts of town.
Residents feared an increase in crime, including littering and fly tipping, referring to previous experiences with travellers in the town.
They suggested that years of trying to rid the estate of a negative image could be set-back by the move.
One of the proposed sites on Torksey Drive. Photo: Daniel Jaines
They accused the council of not listening to residents and queried why out-of-town sites, including one on Waltham Aerodrome, had not been considered – despite being offered.
One angry resident who left before the meeting finished, called out: “Let them come. We’ll make sure they don’t stay.”
Bob Handley, however, had a calmer measure in mind and said: “The day they arrive, we’ll throw them a welcome party. Like the protestors in London – peaceful. They can’t move in if we’re laid in front of them. On the day they arrive we’ll throw them an unwelcome party.”
A call was also made for councillors and campaigners to meet with representatives of the traveller communities to find out what they want.
Councillor Bramley said the last time she had spoken to them, they had told her they did not want to be inside the town, but on the outskirts, in open fields.
Angry residents at the meeting. Photo: Daniel Jaines
The five sites selected by North East Lincolnshire Council are:
Former youth club on Wootton Road, Nunsthorpe
Torksey Drive and Toynton Road site, off Winchester Avenue
Land under the Cleethorpe Road flyover
Garibaldi Street car park
The car park off Wellington Street
No-one from the ruling party was at the meeting, and residents expressed anger that Councillor John Fenty, deputy leader of North East Lincolnshire Council had not attended.
Following the meeting Councillor Fenty said in a statement: “I need to remain neutral on any potential site issues in this matter until we can consider it at Cabinet and as I’ve said on several occasions, I’ll be happy to receive representations and views from local people and ward councillors if and when the issue goes out to public consultation.”
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A convicted killer who downloaded child abuse images after he was freed on licence is back behind bars.
Andrew Cox was given a life sentence for murder in 1994 but was later released on licence and went to live at an address in New Bolingbroke, near Boston and Spilsby.
Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday that police received information that indecent images of children were being accessed from an email address used by Cox.
He was spoken to by officers in May 2020 and his iPhone was seized.
The phone was examined and a total of 108 indecent images of children were found, including four in the most serious category. A further four prohibited images of children were also found.
Cox was later interviewed and said he had exchanged sexual photographs while conducting an online relationship.
Cox, 47, who at the time was living in Main Road, New Bolingbroke, admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of a child and a further charge of possession of a prohibited image of a child.
He was given a six-month jail sentence and placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years. His iPhone was ordered to be destroyed.
The court was told that following his arrest Cox was recalled to prison to continue serving his life sentence and remains there.
The decision on when he is released will be made by the Parole Board.
Michael Cranmer-Brown, in mitigation, said that illegal images were among pornographic material which Cox received via Facebook groups he was involved with.
“His offending seems to be linked to his online relationships.
“Whilst he has been in custody he has been referred for mental health treatment and for the last six months or so he has been seeing a psychologist.”
Boston’s large COVID-19 vaccination centre will be hosting European days over the next two weekends to encourage more communities to have their first dose.
Held at the Princess Royal Sports Arena (PRSA) in Boston on Sunday, April 18 (10am-2pm) and Sunday, April 25 (10am-4pm), the days will offer a chance to be given a walk-in vaccine appointment without the need to book.
It has been brought in to encourage people from Eastern European communities to get their first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine for coronavirus.
Anyone who is Eastern European and aged 45 or over, is a carer, is clinically vulnerable, or works in health and social care, is eligible to attend.
The vaccination centre in Boston is one of the largest in the country. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Whoever wishes to go the centre on these days will not need to pre-book, but will need their NHS number, which can be found online.
Translators will be on hand for people who struggle to speak English, and a children’s area will be set up in the main hall adjacent to where vaccinations are given.
This allows for parents to see their children whilst having their jabs, without risking children being in a clinical area.
Lynda Stockwell, Clinical and Operational Lead at PRSA, said: “So far we have vaccinated well over 50,000 people over the age of 50, and are now beginning to give second doses of the vaccination, as well as booking in people aged 45 and over.
“As part of this we are really keen to make sure that as many people as possible from the eastern European communities in Lincolnshire have their vaccinations.”
A 16-year-old girl from Bourne who works in a local care home has become one of the youngest people in the country to receive both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Ellie Goldsmith, who works at Yew Tree Residential in Dowsby, Bourne, has had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine, most recently in Grantham on Friday, April 9.
Due to her part-time job at the care home, where she tidies rooms, makes tea and plays dominoes with the residents, she was eligible for the vaccination.
Ellie pictured with care home resident Elizabeth Graham. | Photo: BBC Look North
Ellis lives with and looks after her grandma Tess. | Photo: BBC Look North
Ellie also helps look after her grandma Tess, who lives with the family and is vulnerable due to a health condition – COPD.
The teenager, who is studying for her GCSEs, told BBC Look North: “I just get to feel safer around everyone. I don’t have to worry about going into school, picking it up, and bringing it back home, because my nan has got COPD and if she gets it she dies, so being protected just makes me feel a lot safer.”
Ellie said she now feels a lot safer. | Photo: BBC Look North
Ellie’s mum Emma. | Photo: BBC Look North
Ellie’s mum Emma, who also works at the care home said: “I’m so proud of her. She’s been mature throughout the whole pandemic even with remote learning and doing her GCSEs she has powered through it.
“She’s taken on a huge responsibility and she knows how important it is to be vaccinated to protect her nan.”
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