After North Lincolnshire Council withdrew its objections, it might leave those opposed to Egdon Resources plans a bit defeated – but there’s always hope.
Grimsby’s great regeneration project
Current footbridge over the River Freshney in Grimsby with Alexandra Dock on the right. Picture: David Wright.
After its cabinet approved £3.5million of regeneration in the city centre and further improvements to Cleethorpes Sea Front, residents can expect those proposals to be submitted for official planning approval.
The designs include a new bridge over the River Freshney, improvements to the street scene and highway, as well as better access to the waterfront.
More Quadrant capers
The site layout for phase five of the Quadrant housing.
After a successful year of housing, business and stadium plans, the Quadrant development in Boston is sure to see some more developments this year.
As Chestnut Homes’ scheme applies for their penultimate phase of “Q1”’s 500 houses – there are hints on the horizon that the second Quarter of development – Q2 –could be about to be revealed in further detail.
Travellers’ sites controversy continues
Several of those against the plans, including Councillor Jane Bramley who highlighted social media threats, gathered outside North East Lincolnshire Council Scrutiny last week.
North East Lincolnshire, looking to create a temporary stopping place for travellers has narrowed the options down to five and is adamant it will choose a site – however, residents in all five locations have kicked up a fuss.
It’s been several years in the making – but will there finally be somewhere to settle?
Skegness Showground hopes for success
How the Skegness Showground could be laid out.
A three-day festival celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day will launch a new coastal attraction in May 2020.
The Skegness Showground, on Burgh Road, was given five-year temporary permission in September and owner Russell Sparkes will be hoping his first event on the site will prove how successful the site can be.
The Toll rings for Grimsby roundabout
Toll Bar roundabout near Grimsby. Photo: Google Street View
Newly-elected leaders at North East Lincolnshire Council reversed a decision by their predecessors to rip up the roundabout and replace it with traffic lights shortly before Christmas.
It ends years of campaigning by residents.
Instead, the roundabout will be improved, with extra lanes and other enhancements being made.
Special attention given to education
New school plans have been approved for the “overcrowded” John Fielding School.
Two schools in Lincolnshire will be getting a boost in investment over the next year or two, and more could soon be to follow.
The aim is to get as many children with needs taught as close to home as possible.
And with £50 million in the pot – there could be more plans ahead.
Bringing empty homes back into use
North Kesteven District Council has partnered with E.On.
Sometimes, new builds aren’t needed. Sometimes, you just need to give old homes a bit of tender loving care – and that’s what a new pilot from North Kesteven District Council hopes to do.
The authority has agreed to work with E.ON Energy to bring 30 properties back into use over the next 15 months at a cost of £60,000.
It will see property-owners given potential access to extra funding to be put towards insulation, new boilers and other appliances to improve energy efficiency.
Coastal connections on the up
An artist’s impression of how the new cafe would look. Picture: Lincolnshire County Council
It looks like the 16-mile Coastal footpath from Skegness to Mablethorpe will be set for more work to improve tourism in the area.
The third attraction for the 16-mile Coastal footpath from Skegness to Mablethorpe appears to signal the authority has a serious intent for the area – so could we expect further announcements this year?
Outline permission for the overall major development off Foxby Lane, which will also include employment land, community services, restaurants, cafes and leisure spaces, was given to David Lynch, of Keepmoat Homes, by West Lindsey District Council, in 2011.
The plans were updated earlier this year, and it looks like the developer will have to wait until early next year to see if his first phase will be successful.
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A 20-year-old man has been locked up for three years after starting a fire in care accommodation with a discarded cigarette.
Callum Lilliot, 20, dropped a cigarette on his coat which he then threw onto his bed at his care accommodation in Awdry Drive, Wisbech, at about 10pm on Boxing Day 2021.
Officers initially were called to the property when Lilliot threatened to jump out of a second-floor window, but arrived to find smoke coming from an open window.
An officer began to kick the door down through fears that people were inside, before a carer opened it with a key and police tried to tackle the fire themselves.
The officers were beaten back by smoke and heat, causing two of them to be hospitalised with smoke inhalation. Four residents and carers were evacuated as Lilliot was arrested a short time later.
He claimed the fire had been an accident as temporary accommodation had to be arranged for other residents, but that was not to be the last time that Christmastime he got himself in trouble with the police.
In a further incident on December 29, just three days later, Lilliot rang 999 to say he wanted to hurt staff at Peterborough’s Edith Cavell Centre by burning it down.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of arson with intent to endanger life, arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, and threatening to damage or destroy property, during a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, June 29.
Lilliot was sentenced to three years detention in a young offenders institution.
Detective Sergeant Lee Womak, who investigated, said: “Lilliot showed little regard for the safety of others when he decided to deliberately drop his cigarette on his coat and start a fire.
“I don’t need to explain why starting fires is so dangerous and I hope Lilliot will reflect on his actions and consider how tragic the consequences could have been.”
A judge has issued an apology to a Boston man who admitted drug dealing after his sentence hearing was postponed for a second time because of strike action by crown court barristers.
Stacey Housham, 42, has been warned to expect jail after he pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and heroin to other users.
Housham was due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on June 9, but the hearing could not go-ahead because of protest action by defence barristers.
His case was postponed until July 5, however Judge John Pini QC was again forced to adjourn the sentence hearing after being told Housham’s barrister was unavailable because of strike action.
Housham, who attended the hearing by video-link, will now be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on July 27.
Judge Pini told Housham: “These are serious matters. I have read the papers and the pre-sentence report in detail.
“Quite plainly your barrister needs to be here before you can be sentenced.
“I am sorry about this. It is something completely out of my control.”
Housham pleaded guilty to four charges concerning Class A drugs when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in April.
He was due to be sentenced after the preparation of a report by the Probation Service.
A number of other cases at Lincoln Crown Court have been impacted by the nationwide strike action by the Criminal Bar Association. (CBA)
Eight out of 10 barristers voted for the walkouts amid concerns the Government will not improve a proposed increase in criminal Legal Aid.
Housham, who was of no fixed address at the time of his offences, and is formerly of Collingwood Crescent, Boston, admitted possessing both cocaine and heroin with intent to supply others on February 10, 2020.
He also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin to others between December 6, 2019, and February 11, 2020.
At a previous hearing the court heard Housham is now clean of drugs and has turned his life around.