Lincolnshire councils face £67m losses due to coronavirus

Monday has marked the first COVID-related hospital death in 10 days across Greater Lincolnshire’s hospitals, as inpatient numbers have fallen.

The death was recorded in United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), which currently stands at 813 deaths in hospitals since the pandemic started.

Hospital spokespeople confirmed as of this morning, six patients were in ULHT facilities with coronavirus and four (one in Grimsby and three in Scunthorpe) in NLAG, a total of 10, down 41% from the start of May.

The last time there a coronavirus death was recorded in Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) was May 7, but before that it had been over a month.

There were no COVID-related deaths recorded last week (in and out of hospitals) in Greater Lincolnshire, with 307 cases – a slight drop on the previous week.

Patients with COVID in ULHT hospitals.

Pubs, bars, restaurants, and other hospitality venues are reopening indoors as the easing of the coronavirus lockdown continues from Monday, May 17, part of the government’s roadmap, which is moving onto step three of four, ahead of all restrictions being lifted on June 21.

However, there are fears that the easing of restrictions will lead to an increase in the more transmissible Indian variant of coronavirus, which has lead to an increase in hospitalisations in areas in the country such a Bolton, where mass vaccination and surge testing is ongoing.

Patients with COVID in NLAG hospitals.

Police were out on Monday reminding drivers in Lincoln about the driving restrictions on Brayford Wharf East.

The road was closed to through-traffic in October 2020 for a one-year trial to provide a virtually traffic-free route for cyclists and pedestrians to the River Witham path, the university, and to the city centre.

It means motorists cannot turn from St Mark’s Street or Rope Walk into Brayford Wharf East, although access will still be given to emergency vehicles and for business access.

This was introduced in a bid to encourage cycling in the area and a pop-up cycle lane was created as part of the Department for Transport’s emergency active travel fund.

However, this has not stopped drivers ignoring the road closures signs and using it as a rat-run avoiding Tentercroft Street (East West Link Road) and Pelham Bridge (soon to closed for repairs).

Two police officers and a marked car blocked Brayford Wharf East at the level crossing on Monday morning, reminding motorists the road is closed — as the big red signs at the junction show.

The road closure was introduced in October 2020. | Photo: The Lincolnite

A decision will be made later in the year as to whether to keep the new arrangement in place permanently.

Police were out on patrol on Brayford Wharf East in Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire County Council said: “We’ve just finished consulting on eight further prospective schemes to make cycling and walking easier across the county.

“Only those schemes – or elements of those schemes – with public support will be implemented. We’re analysing the results of the consultation now and will publish them soon.”

Restrictions are in place as part of a year-long trial, for which Brayford Wharf East is closed to through-traffic. | Photo: The Lincolnite

The county council was granted £105,500 from the first round of the fund to support temporary projects during the recovery from the coronavirus crisis, although there is scope for them to become permanent.

The Department for Transport announced the funding allocations for the second round of its active travel fund in November last year, with nearly £800,000 more government funding for Lincolnshire’s pedestrians and cyclists.

The council previously said that this money could fund measures including ‘school streets, where roads around schools are closed to motorists at school times, improvements to pedestrian environments and segregated cycle lanes.

It could also help fund low traffic neighbourhoods, where residential side streets are closed to through traffic to stop rat-running.

Lincoln’s 814th Mayor wants to include mental health as one of her top priorities.

Councillor Jackie Kirk will be handed the mantle of the City of Lincoln Mayor from Councillor Sue Burke during a meeting at Lincoln Cathedral’s Chapterhouse on Tuesday.

Councillor Burke has held the role for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic – the first to do so since the First World War. Councillor Kirk held the role of deputy mayor during that time.

Councillor Kirk has been a City of Lincoln Councillor for Glebe Ward since 2012.

“It is massive really in comparison to everything else that I’ve done across my lifetime and it’s an immense honour and privilege to be there to represent the city in the best way I possibly can,” said Councillor Kirk.

She is fully committed to her new role, having given up her job as a cleaner in order to carry it out.

The next-in-line councillor has not chosen a specific charity yet, but says her focus will be around mental health supporting organisations such as Shine and EDAN.

She said one of the main reasons for this was the coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Jackie Kirk.

“Something that needs to be highlighted is the impact that COVID has had on every house, not just within the city in the county, and across the UK, but across the globe.

“It’s been horrific for a lot of people and it’s not just the health implications, it’s the emotional implications of losing people very dear to them, very close relatives and friends and distant family members.”

She said the disease caused constant worry whether it was about the virus, its mutations, lockdown or the vaccination.

She added the country had been “lucky” that vaccinations had been developed “at breakneck speed” but said there was “always that element on the horizon” things might get dark again.

Councillor Kirk believes the role of Mayor is as important today than ever – despite critics taking aim at the cost of the role.

She hopes it will help her other focuses on regeneration, growth and economy.

“Most people nowadays look at it within the budgetary concept, but don’t necessarily think about the historic significance the position holds across the rest of the United Kingdom,” she said.

The Lincoln Mayoralty is the third oldest in the country and Councillor Kirk wants to use that, elaborate on it and bring it to the fore of people’s minds.

“When the mayor of Lincoln steps out of the city or the county, it has a whole different meaning, it is highly respected far wider than the city itself.

“I want to try to use music to increase the Lincoln’s visibility within the rest of the UK.”

When she takes her place as chairman of the council, Councillor Kirk will be supported by Deputy Roseanne Kirk, who she said she had “always been good friends with,” and Sheriff Steve Dixon, who will be the first serving member of the armed forces in the position, and who she said she was looking forward to working with.

The Mayor’s Consort will be Michael Williams, while the Sheriff’s Consort is Lyndsay Dixon.