East Lindsey District Council will not extend the holiday season this year, after it has been told by the government not to act on requests from almost 40 caravan parks on the Lincolnshire coast.
The government announced in October plans to allow an extension of the holiday season through to January 5, 2021, and give holiday park operators extra time to recoup some of the losses suffered during lockdown.
But COVID infection numbers in the East Lindsey area are still high and Lincolnshire County Council has concerns over safe mass evacuations in the event of surge flooding — so the government pulled the plug on the season extension plans for this year.
There are approximately 36,000 static caravans for holiday use within the district and around 25,000 of these are within the coastal area.
Mike Gildersleeves, Assistant Director of Planning for East Lindsey, said: “Agreement has not yet been reached with partner agencies, and government has requested that we do not currently agree any extensions to occupancy restrictions under the local development order (LDO).
“Coupled with the local picture regarding COVID-19, it is not considered appropriate to implement permissions under the LDO at this time.
“As a result, we will not presently be supporting LDO applications which would see an extension of the 2020/21 season.
“We have communicated this to all site owners within the LDO area, including the 38 businesses who have made requests to extend their season.
“We will continue to liaise and work with site operators regarding the 2021/2022 season to secure the benefits of the LDO in that season.”
Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “In the event of coastal flooding during the winter storm season – one of the highest risks to life in Lincolnshire – we would question the ability to evacuate large numbers of people from multiple caravan sites in the time we would need to.
“Flood evacuation plans at individual caravan sites would not address this as they are produced in isolation simply to take people off-site, not to a place of safety.
“Extra demand on emergency services and local councils while we are under increased pressure from the ongoing COVID-19 response, could seriously put lives at risk.”
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Food delivery company Deliveroo will launch in Grimsby in February after a rise in a demand to have the service in the Lincolnshire coastal town.
Deliverooo is looking to employ new delivery drivers and riders in Grimsby. It has seen rider demand soar this year and now works with 50,000 across the UK.
The restaurants and takeaways in Grimsby who have already signed up have not yet been publicly revealed.
Local businesses are still being signed up. Restaurants, takeaways and grocery retailers can apply to become a Deliveroo partner here.
Harrison Foster, Deliveroo’s UK Regional Director, said: “We’ve seen a huge demand for Deliveroo in Grimsby and we’re excited to be launching next month. We’re really excited to be creating new work opportunities for local people.
“The team is looking for people with passion, drive and great customer service who are seeking the added benefit of flexible work amongst other perks. Anyone who’s interested should head over to our website to sign up.”
Lincoln and Scunthorpe are already covered by Deliveroo.
A violent criminal dubbed ‘The Running Man’ evaded police for nearly 13 years, but is now behind bars after a major breakthrough in the case led to his capture near Boston.
Ambrose Nicholas O’Neill, who is now 42, threatened to kill a 67-year-old male antiques dealer in Seagrave in Leicestershire on February 10, 2007.
He knocked on the victim’s door posing as a pizza delivery man before pushing him over and punching him in the face. He demanded the victim opened his safe, but left empty-handed.
O’Neill was arrested and attended the first day of his trial at Leicester Crown Court in July 2008, but then failed to turn up for the rest of the case
This prompted the national media to give him ‘The Running Man’ nickname due to his ability to evade capture.
He was sentenced in his absence to eight years in prison in December 2008, but has not served any time until now.
Leicestershire Police launched a manhunt to find him while colleagues at Nottinghamshire Police carried out extensive enquiries as his last known address was in Arnold.
After detectives had exhausted all lines of enquiry the trail went cold. However, PC James Gill and an intelligence officer took it upon themselves to launch ‘Operation Gladiolus’ in December 2020.
There was a major breakthrough in the case when an anonymous tip-off through Crimestoppers suggested Ambrose may be living with a woman in the Wyberton area near Boston.
No exact address was given, but officers developed the intelligence and used a number of tactics to pinpoint his home to Causeway, Wyberton.
Response officers from Gedling helped carry out the arrest, with support from Lincolnshire Police, before O’Neill was taken straight to prison to start his eight-year sentence.
O’Neill will appear before Leicester Crown Court on a date yet to be announced when his sentence could be extended.
Officers also arrested a 41-year-old woman on suspicion of assisting an offender.
PC Gill, who works on the ‘wanted squad’ at Nottinghamshire Police to track down outstanding offenders, said: “He is known as ‘The Running Man’. We knew he had changed his appearance and lived in an area where people do not know him and he had an assumed identity.
“He was laughing at the police, so we were determined to do everything to find him.
“It has taken an incredible amount of work to find him. It’s making these people know their time on the run is over.”
Lincoln’s Abbey Medical Practice has been given the go ahead for major expansion plans.
The Monks Road GPs told the City of Lincoln Council it needed to be upgraded to create additional capacity, a more welcoming patient environment, and greater accessibility for disabled patients and staff.
The proposals will see a number of first floor residential flats converted while a two storey rear extension, including a new secure car park, will be built.
The result will be four new consulting rooms, two treatment rooms and further associated facilities, as well as lift and stair access to all levels.
In the face of COVID-19, documents before the authority also explained how separate entrances and dedicated room allocated as “red zones” will be created to prevent cross-contamination.
They said: “The proposed scheme will connect seamlessly with its surroundings and architecture with careful detailing complimenting but not replicating the local area and appearance.
An artist’s impression of the GP medical practice’s extension and secure car park.
“[It] provides a design solution that takes into account the sensitive nature of the site.
“Whilst three small residential units are lost through this redevelopments, these are of low quality and it is necessary to facilitate the scheme.
“The client would not be able to deliver the additional facilities without this loss.”
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