How Lincoln's Central Market could look after a revamp. | Photo: Optima Graphic Design Consultants
Lincoln has joined towns across Greater Lincolnshire in bidding for £125million of government funding for regeneration projects.
The city’s Town Deal Board joined similar organisations in Boston, Skegness, Mablethorpe and North East Lincolnshire in bidding for nearly £25 million each for projects hoped to boost the economy and drive growth.
Lincoln’s £24.75 million request covers 15 projects including redeveloping the Drill Hall, creating a new tourism college, and converting the Barbican Hotel into a “production hub for the creative sector”.
Professor Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lincoln and Chair of the Town Deal Board for Lincoln, said: “Continued investment is the key to ensuring Lincoln’s future prosperity and the multi-agency town board have worked incredibly hard, supported by members of the community, to seize this opportunity to bring essential funding for 15 ambitious projects to add or enhance the offering of our city.
“Through this programme of investment, our people, council, companies, education providers and universities will work together to make sure the benefits of growth lead to a sustainable development and the creation of a more prosperous future for everyone.”
How the former Lincolnshire Police Station on West Parade could look under the “Hive” plans. | Picture: Stem Architects Ltd
The “Hive” would have an interior courtyard with greenery. | Picture: Stem Architects Ltd
The former Lincolnshire Police Station on West Parade would also have a garden on the roof terrace. | Picture: Stem Architects Ltd
Here is a list of the capital’s projects in full:
Lincoln Made Smarter – Focused support to SMEs in a bid to accelerate the development of industrial digital technologies (IDTs)
Lincoln connected – the use of digital technology to increase access to arts, culture and heritage, including an Open Content Management system and Smart Signage
Health and Well-being Hub – Development of a Health and Wellbeing training and support Centre (HWBC), as part of Lincoln College
Lincoln City FC Community hub – the expansion and redevelopment of the current stadium infrastructure as a community training and employment facility
Hospitality, Events and Tourism (HEAT) College – development of the UK’s first Hospitality, Events and Tourism (HEAT) College
Wigford Way – improved walking and cycling environment and public realm along Wigford Way and St Mary’s Street
Sincil Bank – traffic improvements including a resident only parking scheme, a 20mph vehicle zone, improved place-setting, creation of a green corridor and environmental improvements
Central Market & City Vibrancy – restoration and repurposing the Grade II listed Central Market Building to create a modern and diversified market offer, combining retail, food, leisure and technology
Store of Stories – the development of a centrally located food supermarket, providing low cost locally supplied waste and surplus food alongside a programme of advice, support and training, volunteering, and work placements opportunities
Greyfriars – restoration of the C13th building to open it to the public as a heritage attraction with a mix of a digital and tactile, immersive interpretation scheme, temporary exhibitions, events, conferencing and educational activities
The outside of Lincoln’s Central Market | Picture: Optima Graphic Design Consultants.
A fresh look for Lincoln’s Central Market from City Square. | Picture: Optima Graphic Design Consultants
Visuals for the Cornhill revamp. | Picture: Optima Graphic Design Consultants
Plans for Portland Street. | Picture: Optima Graphic Design Consultants
Plans for Wigford Way. | Picture: Optima Graphic Design Consultants
The Connected Coast board has led discussions for projects in both Skegness and Mablethorpe.
If successful, the money could go towards an extension and pedestrianisation of the Skegness Foreshore in a bid to allow for year-round use, a replacement for the Colonnade at Sutton-on-Sea and a Campus for Future Living at Mablethorpe, which will see health, education and leisure all combined in a multi-use building.
The planned Skegness Learning Campus. | Picture: East Lindsey District Council
Improvements will also be made to the train station to ensure it matches tourism destination expectations, as well as creating adequate space for businesses, providing incubation space for young entrepreneurs.
Sarah Louise Fairburn, Chair of the Connected Coast Board said the projects are expected to bring in £6 for every £1 requested in Skegness and £3 for every £1 in Mablethorpe and create a combined 14,681 jobs.
“Both towns have a proud tourism offer and heritage that needs to be built upon to ensure their future,” she said.
“This year has been incredibly tough for the whole country, but with this funding, we can see a hopeful and bright future for residents, stakeholders, businesses and visitors in both towns.”
Plans for Sutton on Sea Colonnade redevelopment. | Picture: East Lindsey District Council
In Boston, a new training centre for logistics, food and digital skills could be created on the town’s port in partnership with the University of Lincoln and Boston College.
A controversial new Mayflower Centre being planned by Boston College on the site of the Geoff Moulder pool and a health and leisure centre in the town’s centre are also included.
Further investment has also been linked to the marketplace, Blackfriars Theatre, Shodfriars Hall and a number of volunteer-led projects such as Endeavour FM and church community hubs.
The planned Mayflower Centre, in Boston. | Picture: Boston Borough Council
Neil Kempster, Chair of the Boston Town Deal Board, said: “In such difficult and challenging times, the Town Deal provides a fantastic opportunity to attract significant government funding to make a real difference to the local economy in Boston.
“With a particular emphasis on the skills agenda and raising the aspirations of the people of Boston, the Town Deal aims to build on the unique and historic nature of the town to deliver a better future for everyone.”
North East Lincolnshire Council was also due to submit plans for seven projects in Grimsby to the government.
They include the development of a new public square at Riverhead Square, better pedestrian and cycle access to the town centre and Alexandra Dockside and a waterfront residential build off Garth lane, refurbishment of the Central Library.
The council has been contacted for comment.
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Hundreds of people queued outside Debenhams and at several barbers and salons in the city as Lincoln, and the rest of England, entered the next stage of the roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown on Monday, April 12.
The latest rules allow for the retail sector to fully reopen its doors for customers again, two weeks after the previous lockdown easing on March 29 which resumed outdoor socialising for up to six people – see the list of rules here.
Debenhams especially had a big queue as it got nearer to its 10am reopening time for its final ever closing down sale before it closes permanently later this year.
The queue for Debenhams went round the corner. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Kutz Barber Shop on Newport also had a long line of people eagerly awaiting their lockdown cut in what is expected to be a busy day for hairdressers and barbers in the city.
People were also seen waiting outside barbers including Barbershop By Giovanni on Guildhall Street in Lincoln, and several other barber shops down the lower High Street.
People were also keen to get a lockdown haircut with queues including at Kutz Barber Shop on Newport in Lincoln. | Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
The queue outside Barbershop By Giovanni on Guildhall Street in Lincoln. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
Primark also had a queue outside, although not to the same huge extent as when it reopened after previous lockdown easing last summer when people were waiting from as early as 6am. The queue didn’t get longer until later this time.
The queue at Primark in Lincoln continued to get longer as the morning went on. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
Énergie Fitness (Lincoln City) reopened in the Cornhill and reportedly had queues before 6am as gyms welcomed back their customers again.
People are also looking forward to having a pint with friends and family as pubs and bars can serve now customers outside. They will be able to reopen inside from May 17.
Shops in Lincoln are excited to be back open again. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The High Street was quieter before 9am, with less mad rushes this time! | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A City Centre Warden on Lincoln High Street as more businesses reopened on April 12. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite
The windows being cleaned at House of Fraser in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A Lincoln family will open the next business in its Greek2Me brand this summer with a traditional Greek bakery in the city.
Greek2Me Bakery will open in a unit formerly occupied by now-liquidated sandwich bar Fodders Fine Foods on Newland in Lincoln. Planning permission had previously been given to a kebab shop, but it failed to come to fruition, and the unit has since been taken on by Greek2Me.
The family from Rhodes in Greece are really excited about the new bakery, which is expected to be open by early June. They are also putting the finishing touches to the new Greek2Me takeaway at the Birchwood Shopping Centre, which opens on April 20.
Greek2Me Bakery will serve traditional Greek pastries, cheese and spinach pies, fresh cream type cakes, a mix of English style and Mediterranean sandwiches, Greek salads and coffees, as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Other dishes such as Moussaka will hopefully be added in the future.
For those with a sweet tooth, there will also be traditional Greek desserts, including Baklava, Kadaiifi and Galaktoboureko.
The bakery is hoping to open Monday to Saturday between 8am and 6pm, although this is still being finalised.
There will also be seating outside and a breakfast bar inside for people to use depending on the government restrictions when the bakery opens.
Joanne Macphee-Papadopoulou will run the bakery, which will create around seven new jobs.
She told The Lincolnite: “I think there is such a lot of diversity in Lincoln now, it is getting bigger and there are people from all walks of life.
“People appreciate good food and good coffees and we are hoping to offer an experience to help make you feel like you are there in Greece. When we go back to Greece this is what we eat and there is a market for something different in Lincoln.
“Greek2Me is growing very rapidly and it has been exciting times in our house, and this will offer something different and more of a daytime thing for the people of Lincoln.”
Inside Greek2Me’s new takeaway at the Birchwood Shopping Centre, which opens on April 20.
Joanne was the manager of the coffee shop bakery at Cooplands in the Bailgate when the family first moved from Greece to Lincoln in 2012.
She then worked as a server at Carluccio’s with her partner Christos Papadopoulos, and they wanted to bring their own authentic Greek food to the city.
They purchased The Plough pub in Nettleham in 2015, from where they serve food including Greek cuisine. This is run by Christos and their son George, who is the General Manager. The pub is reopening again on Monday, April 12 in line with the latest government guidelines.
Joanne and Christos’ other son Spryos manages the Greek2Me takeaway next door to the pub in Nettleham and will also run the new Birchwood business.
The new bakery will be the latest business in the Greek2Me brand.
Louise Brown, who owns the building located at 27 Newland, told The Lincolnite: “We are very happy that it will be Greek2Me as they offer quality and a track record that will be a great improvement to the area.”
Volunteers from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue helped save the life of a fox who was “minutes away from being killed” just outside the coastal town.
The team received a call about a fox with its neck in a snare on Sunday, April 11. However, as the volunteers drove to the scene near North Thoresby they got another call to say the fox was about to be shot.
After arriving at the scene, the team had a short discussion with the land owner who agreed to let them relocate the fox rather than kill it (for the safety of his livestock).
Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue said: “As we were getting it out of the snare, the shooter arrived and all we could say is ‘You’re one lucky fox’.
“This young boy is now going to be relocated in a similar area near to a friend we know who loves foxes and will be able to help us to ensure it settles in.”
The fox was saved from being killed. | Photo: Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue
The fox has since been released and the team are also going to support the land owner with non-lethal measures going forward.
The rescue team told The Lincolnite: “We are so thankful that the land owner decided to let us relocate the fox rather than it being killed.
“Sadly, foxes can’t distinguish between a wild meal and a farmers’ livestock, and this is what causes so much hatred for foxes in the countryside.
“They’re beautiful and incredibly smart animals, but this is often what gets them in trouble!
“After getting the fox into a travel crate we spent about 20 minutes talking to the land owner and his friend about the wildlife in the area and how we could work together for any future foxes rather than them being put to sleep. It was a good outcome for all!”
Earlier this month, Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue helped with the emergency rescue of a seal pup.
As a volunteer rescue service, it does not get any funding aside from donations via fundraising to save wildlife and keep up with the regular food and vet bills.
The team are currently trying to fundraise for up to four intensive care incubators – make a donation here.
Two Lincoln boys have been commended by Lincolnshire Police for their quick thinking in reporting a knife they found on their way to school.
Diego and Cohen, who are in Year 6 at St Peter at Gowts Church of England Primary School, found the steel vegetable knife under a Jeep Cherokee on St Martin’s Street in Lincoln in March.
The 10-year-old boys reported it to a teacher as soon as they arrived at school. The school reported it to police and the weapon was retrieved by PCSO James Lingard, who is from Lincoln’s Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The steel vegetable knife was found under a Jeep Cherokee in Lincoln. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Police are unsure how the knife got there, but don’t believe it was used in a crime. The knife has since been destroyed.
The boys said: “We spotted something shiny under the car and then we realised it was a knife. We knew that we shouldn’t touch it but that we had to let someone know, so we told our teacher straight away.
“It was really scary as we were worried that someone might find it and use it to do something bad with it like hurt themselves or someone else.
“Our school and our parents were really pleased that we made a good choice and it was really exciting that officer Lingard came to see us at school too.”
Emma Bradley, Year 6 teacher at the school, added: “It is really heart-warming for us to see our pupils making a difference in the local community.
“We are really proud of the actions of Cohen and Diego and both are absolutely over the moon to have been recognised by the police.”
PCSO Lingard was also full of praise for the boys and he said: “Cohen and Diego made an outstanding decision and their quick thinking ensured that we could take the knife away before anyone could move it.
“It is still a mystery how the knife got there but we don’t believe it had been used in any crime thankfully and its now been destroyed.
“Through our Operation Raptor we work to help young people understand the dangers and consequences of knives and we will be sure to tell other school children of how Cohen and Diego helped to keep Lincoln safe.”
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