Steve Sharpe, owner of S Sharpe & Daughter Fruit and Veg. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A fruit and veg stall owner who has served Lincoln for over 30 years said he feels numb at the thought of being evicted later this week, but the city council said its “last resort” decision was for not complying with conditions.
Steve Sharpe runs ‘S Sharpe & Daughter fruit and veg’ with his daughter Beth, and they have been able to operate throughout the coronavirus lockdown and also introduced a popular home delivery service.
Steve has spent four years in his current spot inside the central market in City Square, but has been working in Lincoln for around 35 years.
However, it appears his time at Lincoln Central Market is now up after disagreements over the size of the stall.
Over 2,500 have signed a petition to try and stop the eviction, with the owner wanting further discussions with the city council about the recent decision.
The council said the decision was a “last resort based on Mr Sharpe’s failure to comply with our requirements to ensure we are able to run a safe market which is fair to all traders”.
Steve Sharpe told The Lincolnite that the council had a go at him around a month ago regarding the stall, which he said had not changed in size in over three years.
He said after being told it was too big, before most of the other traders returned on June 15, he altered it only to be told again it was over the limit.
The city council sent a letter to him on June 5 saying that he had 28 days to comply with all the rules or he could face his contract being ended.
He believes he was then complying with the rules, but when the council inspected the stall on June 10 it said it was still 23% larger than it should be.
A letter was issued on June 16 saying a new lease could be considered if certain conditions and space requirements were adhered to.
An inspector returned on July 2 before a decision was made and another letter sent saying his licence expires on July 8, so he must vacate the space by July 9.
Fresh fruit and veg ready to buy at Lincoln’s indoor Central Market. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Steve sent an appeal to the council on Monday morning to ask for discussions about the decision.
He said: “We have worked all the way through COVID and all the customers that have come in appreciate what we’ve done.
“We used a bit of extra space for pallets as there were no other traders there (in the main market area before June 15).
“I am gutted and it’s difficult to put it into words that it had to come to this, but when you have an unapproachable man at the council it is difficult to talk to them.”
Regarding the petition, he added: “I always knew we’d get some response, but not the amount we’ve had. The overwhelming support gives us a bit of hope, but I still feel a bit numb.
“Going forward I’m not sure it will be a good place any more as it’s been allowed to slowly run down with no investment.”
His daughter Beth said: “The support has been overwhelming and everyone has been really nice. We’ve had messages, email and calls from various people, expressing their thoughts about how sad and angry they are about it.”
Simon Walters, Director for Communities and Environment at City of Lincoln Council, said: “Where we encounter breaches of licence agreements we seek to work closely with the stall holders to resolve these. As is stated in the petition, Mr Sharpe’s stall has been bigger than it should have been according to his licence.
“After a lengthy period of engagement with Mr Sharpe, he has not addressed our concerns and so we have now terminated his licence to operate in the market. This decision was a last resort based on Mr Sharpe’s failure to comply with our requirements to ensure we are able to run a safe market which is fair to all traders.
“A fruit and vegetable stall at our market is an important anchor trader and will ensure we find a suitable replacement for Mr Sharpe at the earliest opportunity.”
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Phase two of the works at Speakers’ Corner in Lincoln is well underway and expected to finish on schedule this summer.
Phase two, which began on Monday, January 11, will see existing paving upgraded, as well as new street furniture being installed.
It will follow the first phase which was completed and open to the public on December 22, with a new bench put in place around the existing London Plane tree, instead of the demolished kiosk.
Speakers Corner bench is in place, but closed off until phase two paving works are finished. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Site setup for phase two is complete, with workers on site currently digging out the existing hard paving standings at the Cornhill.
A large portion of the area has been fenced off while work takes place, leaving just two pedestrian strips on either side to access both the High Street and the Cornhill Quarter.
There is limited access in the area while works take place. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Despite the cold and wet weather throughout January, progress of the paving removal has not been affected.
This means that phase two works are still on course to be finished in summer this year.
It is hoped that once the area is completed, the walkways will blend in with those at Exchange Square, as well as utilising the space for events.
A look at how the finished development will look. | Illustration: City of Lincoln Council
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.
Boston Borough Council and East Lindsey District Council said it is not a decision that has been taken lightly and it is necessary for the service to be suspended in some southern parts of the district until Monday, February 1.
From Monday, waste collections are expected to continue as normal.
Households impacted by the disruption can present any accumulated side waste in black refuse sacks alongside their black bins on their next scheduled bin collection.
The following areas are affected:
Boston
Friskney
Eastville
New Leake
Stickford
Coningsby (part)
Coningsby Moorside
Dalderby
Haltham
Mareham Le Fen
Moorby
N Bolingbroke
Revesby
Scrivelsby
Tumby
Tumby Moorside
Tumby Woodside
Wilksby
Wood Enderby
Carrington
Dogdyke
Frithville
Gypsey Bridge
New Bolingbroke
New York
Scrub Hill
Thornton Le Fen
Westville
Antons Gowt
Cowbridge
Fishtoft
Frithville
Langrick
Sibsey
East Keal
East Kirkby
Hagnaby
Keal Coates
Midville
Stickney
Toynton All Saints
West Keal
Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director for Operations at the council, said: “Over the past couple of days it has proved a real challenge to keep the service going with a number of rounds having not been completed due to staff absences.
“With more crews off again today we needed to take action now and suspending the service is the only realistic option available to us to keep everyone safe – something we’ve worked hard to avoid.
“Our workforce has done an amazing job over the past year and they’ve received much praise from the community and are grateful for your continued good wishes.”
Meanwhile, Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to extend their open days at the Household Recycling Centre on Bittern Way for the disposal of black-bagged general waste and recycling only.
The two extra days of opening are Wednesday and Thursday of this week and next, between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
Over 6,000 people living in and around the Scunthorpe have signed up to donate convalescent plasma after having coronavirus.
This comes as NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more potential plasma donors ahead of an upcoming third trial.
Convalescent plasma is the antibody-rich plasma of people who’ve had coronavirus. This can be transfused into people who are struggling to develop their own immune response.
NHSBT wants more people in the area hitting the 28-day recovery mark to sign up.
Over 30 donations have so far been taken at the Scunthorpe donor centre at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road, which opened in December last year.
People can register to donate online here and can donate 28 days after they’ve recovered from coronavirus.
The Lincolnshire centre is located at Berkeley House at Berkeley Business Centre on Doncaster Road in Scunthorpe. | Photo: NHSBT
NHSBT is collecting the plasma for new trials for older people or those with cancer to treat them early in the course of the infection.
Two earlier trials have now stopped for data analysis. The upcoming third trial’s focus will be on those with low immune systems and all donations are tested for COVID antibodies.
The NHS trials of convalescent plasma are the largest randomised controlled trials for this treatment of COVID-19.
Professor Dave Roberts, Associate Medical Director for Blood Donation at NHSBT, said: “More people than ever are now able to help – the time to donate is now.
“We especially need donations from people in Scunthorpe who’ve had hospital care. Men who had hospital care are around six times more likely to have the high antibody levels which might save lives.
“We have completed two trials and analysis is ongoing. We now need to collect plasma for further planned clinical studies. We’re particularly looking at high risk groups such as the elderly and people with cancer.
“Donations are vital to the ongoing lifesaving research, which gives us a better understanding of how we can best treat patients with COVID-19 and help prevent deaths in the future.”
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