Greater Lincolnshire council leaders remain optimistic as the United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union.
The UK leaves the EU at 11pm on Friday, January 31, and enters a 11 month transition period where political leaders from both camps will thrash out a future arrangement agreement.
Until December 31, most things, such as travelling to and from the EU and trade between nations, will remain the same.
As Britain gears up to leave on Brexit Day, council leaders across the county said authorities will “focus on the positives”.
Lincolnshire County Council
Lincolnshire County Council Leader Martin Hill. Photo: LCC
Martin Hill, leader of the county council, said Brexit Day would be the beginning of “new opportunities” for the country and the county.
He added that leaving the EU should bring the country together to “take control of our future”.
“Brexit is a momentous, historic occasion. I firmly believe that rather than it marking an end of an era, instead January 31, 2020, represents a new beginning,” he said.
“It will certainly be the beginning of further negotiations and a managed transition as we exit the EU, but also the beginning of new opportunities and a chance to think bigger.
“Residents have given us their strongest vote of confidence yet with the recent election result showing what we all felt to be true – they trust their Conservative MPs and the government to deliver a great Brexit and a stronger future.”
City of Lincoln
City of Lincoln Council leader Ric Metcalfe. Photo: Emily Norton for Lincolnshire Reporter
In Lincoln, where 56.9% of people voted to leave, Labour city council leader Richard Metcalfe said: “Today respects the public vote taken in 2016. The economic impact of Brexit remains unclear, but I would hope that the government is capable of striking a beneficial deal with the E.U, along with a good deal for the trade of British goods in other parts of the world.
“Whilst we are leaving the E.U, Britain remains unavoidably a part of Europe and we should certainly retain our social and cultural links with other European countries to whom we have a strong affinity.”
North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire Council leader, Philip Jackson. Photo: Calvin Robinson
People in North East Lincolnshire voted 69.9% in favour of leaving the EU back in June 2016.
Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said the region needed to “focus on the future opportunities” that Brexit would bring.
“There will be challenges ahead as negotiation on trade deals and other legislation continues between the UK and the EU,” he said.
“But with our competitive local economies, the potential for us to take advantage of any Freeport proposals and the Government’s commitment to the area through initiatives such as the Town Deal, the High Street Fund and the Towns Fund, there’s no doubt we’re well placed to benefit from the new freedoms Brexit will bring.
“We’ve now also got two Conservative MPs in Westminster fighting our corner with Government, providing a great opportunity to work together to take the area forward and argue our case directly in the corridors of power.
“It was clear from the overwhelming local referendum result that people here were unequivocal about wanting Brexit to happen.
“Now, after such a long delay, it’s the duty those in power to get on with it and rest assured, we’ll be doing our best to make sure North East Lincolnshire takes full advantage of all the positives it has to offer.”
West Lindsey
West Lindsey District Council leader, Councillor Giles McNeill. Photo: Daniel Jaines
Giles McNeill, leader of West Lindsey District Council, said leaving the EU would allow the authority to spend more money in communities in the region.
West Lindsey voted 61.8% at the referendum and Councillor McNeill believes that removing procurement rules will be a positive for the authority.
“The biggest possible advantage that a local council will get from Brexit is no longer being tethered to the EU Procurement rules which mean that despite, desperately wanting to award contracts to local businesses, we have been required to let anyone, from anywhere in the EU bid for our work,” he said.
“I hope that in future years West Lindsey will be an example of Community Wealth Building so that we maximise the benefit of local taxpayers money being spent in our own community, with our own people, for the benefit of our own communities and people.”
South Kesteven
Councillor Kelham Cooke, leader of South Kesteven District Council
Kelham Cooke, leader of South Kesteven District Council, said he was “relieved” that the country was “moving on” from Brexit.
He said the nation had got itself stuck in a “quagmire of uncertainty” over the issue.
Back in June 2016, South Kesteven backed Brexit and voted 59.9% in favour of leave.
Councillor Cooke said the country would be “better off” in the long term outside the EU.
“I hope that by moving forward, we are able to make the best of all the opportunities Brexit brings in terms of new trade deals and the economic and financial freedom to shape our own future,” he said.
“I also hope that the unintentional divisions that have arisen over the past couple of years can be healed whether they exist in our workplaces and in our homes.
“South Kesteven, and more broadly Greater Lincolnshire, has a wealth of potential in terms of economic growth and development.
“I am committed to working in partnership across our district, and regional and national borders to realise that potential for the benefit of all our residents and businesses. We are on the cusp of very exciting times.”
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A third man has been arrested in a police investigation into explosive chemical substances found and destroyed in the Sturton by Stow village near Lincoln.
Searches continued at the property on Queensway on Thursday, as well as neighbouring areas, including waterways with an Underwater Search Unit.
This comes after residents were evacuated on Wednesday evening, and two people arrested on Tuesday, June 22, over handling stolen goods.
A Tactical Support Team from Lincolnshire Police also attended the scene. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The chemical substances were destroyed in a controlled explosion near the village on Wednesday too.
The third arrest is a man aged 30, on suspicion of handling stolen goods and possession of explosive substances. He remains in police custody.
An application to extend the detention of the two men arrested yesterday has been granted at Lincoln Magistrates Court this morning.
An Underwater Search Unit at the scene in Sturton by Stow. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Officers remain in the area and the investigation continues.
Lincolnshire Police said: “There is no risk to anyone in the area.
“We appreciate the local community will have seen a police presence and encourage anyone who has concerns to speak to their local officers.”
People in Lincolnshire are calling for more mental health support after a woman was involved in a crash with a bus in Lincoln on Wednesday afternoon, the latest in a string of tragic incidents in the city.
A woman in her 20s was hit by a bus on Moorland Avenue, which Lincolnshire Police were called to shortly after 3.30pm on June 23. Luckily, her injuries were minor, police said.
Paramedics attended the scene and the woman was taken by ambulance to Lincoln County Hospital.
An eyewitnesses commented on The Lincolnite. She described the woman as ‘clearly unhappy’, and helped her at the scene.
She said: “At the end of day this lady was clearly unhappy. She was clearly unhappy, but I feel for the bus driver and the people who saw it happen. I am glad I supported and helped her, I just wish I’d known who she was.”
Another person said: “Mental health is getting more serious now especially with the pandemic. We need more support for those with mental health and (who) should have got the support straight away at the beginning of this pandemic. I myself have struggled, but luckily I’m still here and so is this young woman.”
This comes after multiple mental-health related incidents in Lincoln this month, including a man found dead outside the Lucy Tower multi-storey car park and another male dying after being hit by a train near the level crossing bridge on the High Street.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “We can confirm that one of our buses was involved in an incident yesterday (Wednesday) where a person was injured. Our first thoughts are with the woman who was injured.
“We will be carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident and will support the police and emergency services in any way we can.”
A spokesperson for EMAS said: “We received a call at 3.30pm to Moorland Avenue in Lincoln. The caller reported that there had been a road traffic collision.
“We sent a medical first responder, a paramedic in a fast response car and a double-crewed ambulance. The air ambulance was also in attendance. One patient was taken to Lincoln County Hospital via double-crewed ambulance.”
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “A woman in her 20s had been involved in a collision with a bus. Paramedics attended the scene and she was taken to hospital for further treatment. Her injuries are thought to be minor.”
The hop-on hop-off open top tour bus will return to the city to launch alongside the Lincoln IMP Trail in July.
The newly livered bus will run between Saturday, July 3 and September 30, 2021. It will depart hourly from 10.30am until 3.30pm so visitors can get on and off at any of the stops and as many times as they want.
Lincoln’s 2,000 year history will be brought to life with live commentary from tour guides on the bus, from which people can find out about the Magna Carta, the iconic castle and cathedral, Roman Lincoln, Aviation Heritage and much more.
Representatives from Lincoln BIG, Stagecoach and the tour guides. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The first tour of the day is at 10.30am from Lincoln Cathedral (West Front) and the last one departs at 3.30pm. The tour lasts for just under an hour, with stops including Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Brayford Waterfront and the High Street.
Tickets for the bus can be purchased on the day from the Visitor Information Centre on Castle Square or from the driver. They are valid for two days (the day of purchase and the following day when the service is running).
Tickets for adults (over 16) are priced at £12, with children under 16 free. Student tickets are priced at £10, while groups of 10 or more can get a 10% discount
The bus can also be hired privately and tours can be customised to its start, finish and duration.
Lincoln Cathedral is among the stops for the Tour Bus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincoln Imp Trail will also launch on July 3. Thirty imps, designed by national and local artists, will be on display throughout the city of Lincoln, while one imp will be at the Hildreds Centre in Skegness – check out where to find them here.
Visitors can get on and off at any of the stops and as many times as they want. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Enjoying being back on the Tour Bus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
There are also five community Imps, including Wind who was adopted by The Lincolnite, and is arguably the most experienced traveller of the group.
There will also be a wide variety of Education Trail Imps, decorated by schools across Lincolnshire, and five community ‘roaming’ imps that move among shops in Lincoln.
The Tour Bus will be back from Saturday, July 3. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite Editor Daniel Ionescu and his adopted Imp Wind were among the passengers on the relaunched Tour Bus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire will be playing its part in the NHS ‘big weekend’ of vaccine-related activity to encourage people to get vaccinated and meet the aim of offering everyone aged 18 or over a jab by July 19.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, who is England’s deputy chief medical officer, was chased by Geza Tarjanyi, while entering the Ministry of Defence building on Tuesday.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to June 24.
Nationally, MPs have been looking at whether to exempt travellers from amber countries from quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there was a “real opportunity” to open up foreign travel, and also did not rule out a summer holiday abroad this year.
Data nationally continues to suggest case numbers are rising as people continue to look to the exit date of July 19 for coronavirus restrictions.
Public Health England’s latest surveillance report said that the North-west England has the highest rate, with 238.9 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to 20 June.
Meanwhile Eastern England has the lowest rate at 46.9, but that is up from 37.4.
The latest data from the Office of National Statistics up to June 23 suggests the UK currently has one of the highest infection rates in Europe, with the reason mainly being put down to the Delta variant.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, June 24
62,375 cases (up 177)
42,987 in Lincolnshire (up 78)
9,937 in North Lincolnshire (up 25)
9,451 in North East Lincolnshire (up 74)
2,195 deaths (no change)
1,622 from Lincolnshire (no change)
302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
271 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,313 hospital deaths (no change)
816 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
42 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
454 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,684,572 UK cases, 128,048 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.
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