A small number of people waiting to get into The Square Sail when it reopened on July 4. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
It was a largely quiet and uneventful ‘super weekend’ in Lincolnshire as many pubs and restaurants reopened on Saturday for the first time since lockdown.
There have been reports of only a couple of arrests, with a pub closing temporarily due to trouble. However, Lincolnshire Police said it was “quieter than usual, with less people out and not all venues open.”
When the first pubs opened at around 11am, there were very few of the anticipated queues, but customers did have some waiting to do in the evening.
Many barbers and hairdressers also opened on Saturday, where some queues were seen as haircuts appeared to take priority in the earlier part of the day.
There were was no early queue at Ritz Wetherspoon either. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Not much sign of life at Mailbox at around 11am on Saturday. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The new queue system at Craft shortly before Saturday’s reopening and it got busier as the day went on. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Slug & Lettuce getting ready to open on Saturday. It got busier by the evening. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
People enjoying food and drink at Bar Unico. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Barbers and hairdressers also reopened on July 4. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Queues were seen at some shops on Saturday morning, including the EE store. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire Police’s Chief Superintendent Chris Davison said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the officers working over the weekend for their professionalism and dedication.
“Over the last months they have worked tirelessly through uncertain and testing times and the opening of pubs was just the latest in a great line of challenges that they have faced. I would also like to thank our specials, partners, street pastors and venue staff.
“As this was an evening with a unique set of circumstances, we don’t have a comparison we can draw statistically, but the number of incidents we were dealing with was broadly in line with what we deal with on a normal weekend night, if anything it was quieter than usual with less people out and not all venues open.
“Much planning and effort was put in by the venues to make sure that the safety measures were clear and that their customers followed them. The majority of people are able to go out, have a good time, and behave responsibly.
“To the minority that can’t, we will continue to deal robustly with anti-social and criminal behaviour.
“If you are planning to visit a pub over the coming weeks, make sure you book in advance, behave responsibly, follow the safety measures and plan a safe journey home.”
A flow of people on Lincoln High Street on Saturday. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A small queue was seen at Card Factory on Saturday. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
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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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