There are 115 Lincolnshire schools with positive cases of coronavirus this week after a further six were confirmed on Friday.
Lincolnshire County Council said on Friday, November 20 that it is also working with 10 nurseries with COVID-19 infections.
The latest additions to the county council’s list are Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School, Stamford College, Community Learning in Partnership (Market Rasen), Long Sutton County Primary School, St Gilbert’s Primary School (Stamford) and Stamford Welland Academy.
Meanwhile, the schools currently listed as closed are Great Steeping Primary School (Spilsby), King Edward VI Grammar (Louth), St Lawrence School (Horncastle), Holton Le Clay Pre-School, Newton on Trent Primary School (Lincoln), John Spendluffe Technology College (Alford), Greenfields Academy (Grantham), and South View Community Primary School (Crowland).
Andy Fox, consultant in public health, said: “As of this Friday, Lincolnshire’s Health Protection Team is currently working with 115 schools that have had confirmed cases of coronavirus.
“All schools are taking action to limit the potential spread of the virus, with some pupils and staff self-isolating as a precaution where necessary.
“The majority of schools remain fully open, and those affected are working really well to limit both the risk of the virus spreading and the impact on the pupils’ education.”
These are the schools with current confirmed cases, according to the county council (new in bold at the top):
Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School
Stamford College
Community Learning in Partnership, Market Rasen
Long Sutton County Primary School
St Gilbert’s Primary School, Stamford
Stamford Welland Academy
Lincoln College
Queen Elizabeth High School, Gainsborough
Kesteven and Sleaford High School
Bluecoat Meres Academy, Grantham
Kesteven and Grantham Girls School
Priory LSST, Lincoln
Boston College
Malcolm Sargent Primary School, Stamford
St George’s Academy, Sleaford
St Peter and St Paul Academy, Lincoln
Stamford Endowed Schools
Branston Community Academy
Grantham College
The King’s School, Grantham
Westgate Academy, Lincoln
William Farr School, Welton, Lincoln
Kisimul School Acacia Hall, Freisthorpe
Leslie Manser Primary, Lincoln
Market Deepings Community Primary
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Horncastle
University Academy Long Sutton
De Aston School, Market Rasen
Bourne Academy
Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford
Hartsholme Academy, Lincoln
Holbeach Primary Academy
The Deepings School
Spalding High School
Spalding Parish School
William Alvey School, Sleaford
Barnes Wallis Academy, Tattershall
Bourne Grammar School
Spalding Academy
Tedder County Primary School, Ashby de la Launde
Alford Primary School
Caistor Grammar School
St Thomas’ CE Primary Academy, Boston
Whitewood Academy, Gainsborough
Scotter Primary School
The Village Pre-School at Manor Farm, North Hykeham
Bardney CE Primary School
Wragby Primary School
Linchfield Community Primary
The Gainsborough Parish Church CE Primary School
Thomas Cowley High School, Spalding
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Alford
Wyberton Primary School
Burton Hathow Preparatory School
Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham
Giles Academy, Boston
Branston Junior Academy
Waddingham Primary School
Fosse Way Academy, North Hykeham
St Faith’s Infant and Nursery School
Clough and Risegate Primary School, Spalding
Kirton Primary School
Mablethorpe Primary Academy
Ruskington Chestnut Primary Academy
Louth Academy
The Holt Primary School, Skellingthorpe
St Lawrence School, Horncastle (closed)
Springwell Alternative Academy, Lincoln
Priory City of Lincoln Academy
Holton Le Clay Pre-School (closed)
South View Community Primary School, Crowland (closed)
Westmere Primary, Spalding
Ermine Primary Academy, Lincoln
King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth (closed)
Sir Robert Pattinson Academy, North Hykeham
Boston High School
North Kesteven Academy, North Hykeham
Pinchbeck East Primary School
Tower Road Academy, Boston
Newton on Trent Primary School, Lincoln (closed)
Fleet Wood Lane Primary School, Spalding
Colsterworth Primary School
Kidgate Primary Academy, Louth
William Lovell CofE Academy, Stickney
John Spendluffe Technology College, Alford (closed)
Walton Academy, Grantham
St Faith and St Martin Junior School, Lincoln
Market Deepings Community Primary School
St Hugh’s Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy, Lincoln
Stamford Junior School
Belton Lane Primary School, Grantham
Greenfields Academy, Grantham (closed)
North Thoresby Primary Academy
The Priory School, Spalding
Washingborough Academy
Theddlethorpe Academy
Cliffedale Primary School, Grantham
Priory Witham Academy, Lincoln
Manor Leas Infant School, Lincoln
Lincoln UTC
Cowbit St Mary’s Primary School, Cowbit, Spalding
St Anne’s Primary School, Grantham
Springwell Alternative Academy, Spalding
Somercotes Academy, North Somercotes
Boston Pioneers Academy
Chapel St Leonards Primary School
Church Lane Primary School, Sleaford
Community Learning in Partnership, Gainsborough
Hogsthorpe Primary Academy
Spalding Grammar School
Great Steeping Primary School (closed)
Cranwell Primary School
Gonerby Hill Foot Primary School, Grantham
Billingborough Primary School
Holton Le Clay Junior School
The county council confirmed on Friday, November 20 that no school cases have been closed by Public Health England since the last update.
Public Health are also aware of the following 10 nurseries with positive cases:
Limes Play and Learn, Louth
Angels Childcare, Lincoln
Nutwood Day Nursery, Lincoln
Clarence House Day Nursery, Grantham
Elsaforde Nursery, Sleaford
Sunflowers Nursery, Saxilby
Mon Ami Day Nursery, Alford
Young Tots Nursery, Lincoln
Smart Pants Day Nursery, Mablethorpe
White House Farm Day Nursery, Grantham
Lincoln Minster Nursery said in a letter to Pre-Prep parents/carers on November 13 that a member of its school community, within the nursery bubble, had tested positive for COVID-19. However, the nursery was not on Friday’s list.
North East Lincolnshire Council
More recent data is not yet available regarding the exact number of schools currently with cases in North East Lincolnshire.
The last data provided by North East Lincolnshire Council on November 2 stated that at the time it was working with 21 suspected or confirmed cases in education settings in the area. On November 10 the council had notification of three more schools with suspected cases.
North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council said it will not provide any data regarding schools in the region with coronavirus cases.
There have been at least seven schools with publicly confirmed cases since term restarted.
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We want to see 750,000 trees planted around the county over the next few years.
The ambitious target is linked to the national 25-year Environment Plan, which aims to create or restore 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat.
Despite its reputation for being a green and rural county, Lincolnshire actually has one of the lowest tree coverage rates in the country at just four per cent, compared to an England average of 10 per cent.
Lincolnshire County Council has started to respond to this by supporting tree planting projects around the county. In the 2021/22 tree planting season we planted over 30,000 trees across Lincolnshire as part of community planting days and highways projects.
Dan Clayton, sustainability manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Historically, huge swathes of Lincolnshire have been used as arable agricultural land, and so the county hasn’t tended to have extensive woodland areas.
“Although much land still is used for farming, there is scope to increase Lincolnshire’s tree cover, and we’re keen to work with land owners, town and parish councils and community groups to support tree planting and help us reach the target of a tree for every resident.”
To keep track of our progress, we’ve installed a tree counter on our website. We also have a map so you can see where in Lincolnshire trees have all been planted so far.
If you plant a tree in your garden or on your land that you control, you can register it on the tree counter and it have it count towards the county’s tree planting target.
Any trees planted within Lincolnshire over the last 12 months can be registered and added to the total.
If you have a site that would be suitable to plant 300 or more trees and are interested in looking at tree planting options, then please register your interest on our website at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/xfp/form/744 or contact us on [email protected].
Lincolnshire County Council on Monday voted to drop two proposals for changes to the permit scheme along the Bailgate, which would have increased residents parking, but decreased the amount available to shoppers.
Chairman Ian Fleetwood called the area “jewel in the crown” of the city and that it was a “sensitive” decision as he put forward “Option C” – doing nothing – at the last minute.
Nicola Lockwood, owner of Bells Tea Shop and chairwoman of the Bailgate Area Guild, said: “We can’t believe it, we are in shock!
“I just feel for all the businesses and all our customers who supported us and have been behind us all the way through this.”
She said if the changes had occurred it would have seen businesses – already affected by other changes, the internet and COVID – close.
She warned fast-food chains were “already circling looking for anyone who wants to throw in the towel” – however, it is not known which chain this is.
Michelle Guest, who owns a childrens’ shoe shop, said she was “totally relieved, delighted.
“They’ve seen what we’re up against, they’ve seen exactly how it will impact the area and how it will impact the businesses.”
She said casual shoppers and visitors would have been most affected along with those who were less mobile. She claims having spaces on the street deterred people from going to out-of-town facilities.
Josie Rossington, who has run Folly for 18 years, said she was “absolutely elated”.
“We had so much support… far ranging, all from the bottom of Steep Hill to Newport.” They included a 7,000 signature petition.
“The amount of times we were told ‘they’re not locals’… it doesn’t matter where they come from, it would have affected everybody.”
“There are literally businesses that will not go under now because of this. It sounds very dramatic but it’s been a dramatic time which has affected everyone in lots of different ways.”
However, Carholme Councillor Rob Parker, whose ward covers part of the area affected, said residents would be “disappointed” by the decision.
“They put forward a lot of good, sound arguments about the need for residents’ parking in that part of the world, but unfortunately the planning committee didn’t agree.
“It’s surprising because the needs of the residents need to be considered just as much as the needs of businesses.”.
He said there would need to be “some form of review” in the future and that he, along with residents, would be examining whether another case could be brought with more evidence “to show how much residents are affected by not being able to park close to their own homes.”
He said many were already having to park further away from their homes due to other permit schemes being changed to omit them.
Ermine and Cathedral Ward Member Karen Lee said the scheme should have been “about fairness”.
“There are a couple of residents who are elderly and need space for their carers to park daily.
“There’s a woman who’s an acute practitioner, there’s somebody who’s a paramedic – there are all sorts of different people who wanted residents’ parking for very good reasons, and I didn’t think that committee gave that any thought whatsoever. They simply focused on the businesses.”
She said there was “plenty of parking” available with free parking available.
In response to the argument that people who bought their houses knew what they were paying for, she said: “in this day and age do we really think like that, that nothing should ever change and no one should ever reconsider a position and think well, actually, is that right? Because I don’t think that is right.”
The planning meeting in progress. | Image: Daniel Jaines
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Ian Fleetwood said the decision was fair and listened to both sides of the community.
“Both the residents and businesses have put forward strong points of view… I believe it’s not a good time to move things forward,” he said.
“At the moment, there is a scheme in place. I don’t know if people are enjoying it or not, but it is a scheme that has been working for a period of time.
“If indeed there is an absolute need to change it. Well, that’s a good time to go, but at this moment in time, I don’t believe it’s the case.”
He said if circumstances changed there would be a case for a further review, however, did not see that happening in the short term.