A government overhaul of the planning system has been accused of “encouraging slum dwellings and a return to Victorian standards”.
The proposals, unveiled last month, would divide land into growth, renewal or protection areas and pre-approved design codes would give an automatic green light to certain applications.
The Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee, which covers the City of Lincoln and West Lindsey and North Kesteven district councils, examined the plans on Monday and councillors expressed their displeasure.
Councillor Chris Burke said: “I have rarely seen a document from any government in my lifetime that so ignores planning considerations.
“The implications are so huge that I think our response collectively and as individual authorities should be very, very forceful.
“Did they consult Mr Rachman? Because it certainly feels like it is encouraging slum dwellings and a return to Victorian standards. It’s an appalling document.”
Council officers disputed a suggestion planning authorities were the reason for a housing shortage, instead blaming developers who received permission for developments but did not build them.
The officers pointed to data that showed that in the year to June 2019, 377,000 residential planning consents were granted in England, but only 214,000 homes were built last year – 163,000 short.
Councillor Peter Lundgren said he was “no lover” of the current planning system, however added: “To blame the lack of housing delivery on the planning system… just shows a total lack of grasp on reality of the situation by ministers.”
He said changes to the requirements for affordable housing would mean “none of our rural communities would qualify”.
“It just flies in the face of the aspirations of our local communities.”
Chairman Councillor Richard Wright said he had heard similar complaints from other authorities.
Councillors voted in favour of submitting the officer’s critical response to the consultation on the Government White Paper.
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A mobile vaccination unit will be set up in Lincoln temporarily to help with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
The vaccination bus will be in the car park of Bridge Central, on the corner of Portland Street and Charles Street, starting on Saturday, June 19 between 12pm and 3pm.
It will be in place for the next four Saturdays (12pm-3pm), allowing anyone who has not yet had their first dose, and is eligible to do so, to get jabbed without booking.
The vaccination bus will be at Bridge Central car park in Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The bus will be provided by St John Ambulance with staff from local GP practices providing the vaccinations, all set up by NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
There will be translation services available at the site, and a dedicated team are on hand to answer any questions the public have.
It comes after Lincolnshire recently hit the milestone of 500,000 first jabs being administered, along with around 380,000 second doses.
The community continues to pull together at a time of tragedy in Louth as over £10,000 has been raised towards the funerals of 26-year-old Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson, who were stabbed to death in their Lincolnshire home.
Bethany and Darren were found by paramedics at their house on High Holme Road on Monday, May 31. Police were informed by the ambulance service and when they attended the scene they found the victims had multiple stab wounds. A baby was also found at the property, safe and well, and is being cared for.
People laid flowers and candles as they gathered for a vigil in memory of the victims, while a fundraiser set up by Rochelle Clare has raised £10,425 by the time of publication.
A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money towards the funerals of Louth murder victims Bethany Vincent and Darren Henson.
Daniel Boulton, of Alexandra Road in Skegness, was charged with murdering his ex-partner and her young son.
He was also charged with assaulting a police officer with intent to resist arrest on Tuesday, June 1 and a further offence of burglary at Hubbards Hills Cottage in Halfpenny Lane, Louth, where it is alleged clothing, food and drink were stolen between May 30 and June 2.
Judge John Pini QC remanded him in custody to appear back before the Crown Court on July 5 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Double murder suspect Daniel Boulton resisted arrest following a manhunt in Louth | Photo: BBC
Murder victims Bethany Vincent (26) and her son, Darren Henson (9). Daniel Boulton (R) has been charged with their murder.
Rochelle Clare, who set up the GoFundMe fundraiser page, said: “Let’s help support this family. Louth is a small town. You may not know the family as I don’t, but we can all say we can all sympathise with the family.”
She added: “Thank you for all the donations so far. Let’s see if we can get to the next goal.”
People laying flowers in memory of Bethany and Darren. | Photo: Graeme Whitworth
Senior ministers have agreed to delay the last stage of lockdown by four weeks as coronavirus numbers continue to rise across the UK.
The latest figures show there have been 387 new COVID-19 cases in Greater Lincolnshire last week and two deaths — compared to just 197 cases (96% week on week increase) and one death the previous week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard over the weekend recorded 66 new cases in Lincolnshire, 38 in North East Lincolnshire and eight in North Lincolnshire.
No further deaths were added on to the government’s public health figures. NHS England does not update its figures over weekends currently.
Nationally COVID cases increased to 4,565,813 with 7,490 of those on Sunday while deaths rose to 127,904.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus case date up to June 14.
Sources in the government have told the BBC that senior members of the government have agreed to the delay of easing current restrictions until July 19, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected to hold a press conference at 6pm.
It means the legal limits on social contact would remain, while nightclubs will stay closed and capacity limits at sports, pubs and cinemas will stay in place.
A number of health experts have called for the delay so that more people can be vaccinated and receive their second doses as cases of the Delta (Indian) variant increase.
Boris Johnson will speak later on Monday.
Health minister Edward Agar said there had been a “concerning increase” and that hospitalisation numbers were “beginning to creep up”.
It is understood extra support for businesses could be included in the announcement.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, June 14
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
61,183 cases (up 112)
42,414 in Lincolnshire (up 66)
9,823 in North Lincolnshire (up eight)
8,946 in North East Lincolnshire (up 38)
2,197 deaths (no change)
1,622 from Lincolnshire (no change)
307 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,311 hospital deaths (no change)
816 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
453 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,565,813 UK cases, 127,904 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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