Sparklers recalled after ‘explosion’ burns Lincoln dad’s hands

Three times as many Lincolnshire businesses fear future COVID lockdown measures more than the impact of Brexit, according to new research by a local law firm.

Lincoln-based Langleys Solicitors conducted the research of 250 UK business owners and directors for its ‘Back to Business’ report that will be published this month.

With the nation current in lockdown to to coronavirus, survey participants were asked to score a variety of business challenges from one to 10 (lowest to highest concern).

Business in Lincolnshire scored the future threat of pandemic measures at 7.2 out of 10 compared to 6.9 for Brexit.

Concern for future pandemic restrictions was scored 10 by twice as many business owners and directors than Brexit – 18.2% compared to 9.1% – despite support measures such as the extended furlough scheme.

Senior leaders felt that the coronavirus crisis presented a bigger task in the next five years of business than increased regulation (6.6), the challenge of exporting (5.9) and increased competition (6.2).

Some 64% of respondents in Lincolnshire said that a prolonged second and third wave, and subsequent lockdown, is a larger risk to their businesses than Brexit in the next 12 months.

Some 41% of the survey respondents in the area are considering redundancies, while 27% now have fewer staff than pre-lockdown.

The research also found that 55% of businesses in the area have experienced decreased customer demand due to coronavirus and lockdown restrictions.

It is therefore unsurprisingly to see that 68% of businesses in the county have had to change their business model as a result of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions. This is higher than the national average of 58%.

Nationally, 20% of businesses reported future pandemic measures as their biggest challenge rather than 7% who said Brexit.

Tim Cross, managing partner at Langleys Solicitors said: “Brexit and coronavirus made 2020 a very difficult year for businesses and their owners and, as lockdowns continue to tighten, businesses under tier 3 and 4 regulations could be facing their worst fears once again.

“Business owners and leaders in Lincolnshire have reported disproportional troubles, with more businesses in the area facing decreased customer demands and business models changes than the national average.

“Sadly, 41% of our survey respondents in the area are considering redundancies and the news of a new virus strain and the introduction of stricter tiered measures are likely to turn these considerations into difficult decisions for business owners.”

There have been 289 new coronavirus cases and 20 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 233 new cases in Lincolnshire, 32 in North Lincolnshire and 24 in North East Lincolnshire.

On Wednesday, 18 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and two 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 15 new local hospital deaths on Wednesday, including nine at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and six at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG).

On Wednesday, national cases increased by 25,308 to 3,715,054, while deaths rose by 1,725 to 101,887.

The Prime Minister has said “it will not be possible to reopen schools” after the February half term, with the hope to bring pupils back from March 8.

Boris Johnson also told MPs that UK nationals and residents returning from “red list” countries will be placed in a 10-day quarantine in government-secured accommodation, such as hotels.

The 22 “red list” countries where there is a risk of known variants include South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

In the House of Commons on Wednesday, the MP for Cleethorpes, Martin Vickers praised travel quarantine proposals but raised concerns of the “element of contact between” those in hotels “however well-policed it is”.

He urged the home secretary to give “assurance that there will be appropriate measures in place to limit mixing to the absolute minimum.”

Priti Patel responded: “We are working quickly across government right now with the industry, with partners and organisations within the sector to bring these new measures and work on the hotel package.”

Further details of this will be put out in due course, according to the home secretary.

In Lincolnshire, bin collections in Boston and in parts of East Lindsey will be suspended for the rest of the week due to COVID-related staff absences.

The collections will be suspended from Wednesday, January 27 as a number of East Lindsey District Council’s and Boston Borough Council’s waste crews either have coronavirus or are self-isolating.

Nationally, “a legacy of poor decisions” by the UK before and during the pandemic led to one of the worst death rates in the world, scientists have said.

Professor Linda Bauld, public health expert from the University of Edinburgh, said the UK’s current position was “a legacy of poor decisions that were taken when we eased restrictions”.

People infected with the new coronavirus variant discovered in the UK are less likely to report losing taste and smell as part of their symptoms, a study has found.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the condition was “significantly less common” in patients who tested positive for the new variant compared to those with other variants of COVID-19.

Greater Lincolnshire has seen a fall in its infection rates once again with only slight increases in the districts of Boston and North Lincolnshire.

This mirrors the national average infection rate also decreasing on Wednesday.

Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate over the last seven days up to January 27, according to the government dashboard:

Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 20 to Jan 27. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite

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Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, January 27

Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.

46,917 cases (up 289)

• 32,844 in Lincolnshire (up 233)
• 7,204 in North Lincolnshire (up 32)
• 6,869 in North East Lincolnshire (up 24)

1,822 deaths (up 20)

• 1,311 from Lincolnshire (up 18)
• 278 from North Lincolnshire (up two)
• 233 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,086 hospital deaths (up 15)

• 667 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up nine)
• 33 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 385 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up six)

3,715,054 UK cases, 101,887 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.

A man from Northern Lincolnshire will cycle 900 miles in nine days with his three best friends in memory of his dad, who sadly took his own life last year.

Joey Jackson, who grew up in Wootton and now lives in Waltham near Grimsby, is determined to raise awareness for mental health and suicide after losing his 54-year-old father Mark on March 5 last year.

Joey has also since seen the coronavirus pandemic impact on people’s mental health and said four people locally took their own lives in the space of a month recently, so he is determined to do something to tackle the issue.

Declan, Ryan and Joey at the most northern part of their route during the cycling challenge in Ireland in 2019.

Joey, 24, has known his best friends Declan Savage, 25, Ryan Smaller, 25 and Warren Slaven, 21, for 10 years.

They are now getting ready for the cycling challenge, which is due to happen on May 21 depending on government guidance, but can be delayed if needed.

The quartet will be joined by a support team of two more friends – Alex Lee and Ollie Bates – who will follow in a motorhome.

The six of them will drive to John o’Groats in Scotland before setting off to Land’s End in Cornwall on the challenge of cycling 900 miles in 9 days to raise money for mental health charity MIND.

Declan, Joey, Alex and Ryan chilling together in Ulceby.

Joey The Lincolnite: “We have always been aware of the issue of mental health, but since what happened to my dad, it has always been in the back of my mind that I wanted to do something in his name.

“We [the four friends] had spoken about cycling the length of the country before and with mental health being a massive issue at the minute we wanted to do something that stood out to raise awareness.

“My dad was kind, caring and always putting other people before himself. He was really polite and wanted to help anyone, and everyone got on with him.

“My dad was often joking and pranking around. There was no sign of depression or anything.

“Our motto for the challenge is that it’s okay to not be okay and there is always something to talk to.”

Declan, Joey and Ryan during their cycling challenge in Ireland.

The friends have already raised over £3,000 and will be charting their journey on Instagram here.

They hope to raise at least £5,000 – make a donation to their challenge here.

This is not their first charity challenge as in 2019 the four friends cycled the length of Ireland in seven days. That challenge saw them raise around £7,000 for Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind.

Joey Jackson, Ryan Smaller, Declan Savage and Warren Slaven have been best friends for over 10 years.

Regarding his special bond with his three best friends, Joey added: “We have good banter and are very open with each other. We all talk, especially now more than ever, and they have helped me a lot.”