Large queues as 3,500 visit Lincoln Castle in four hours

Various clean ups will be among the works to improve the look and feel of the city centre after City of Lincoln Council, Visit Lincoln and Lincoln BIG, were awarded £175,632 in government funding.

The money will be used in a range of areas across the city, including increased pressure washing of known toilet and pigeon mess ‘black spots’ and a deep clean of the bus station.

The funding was awarded as part of the government’s Welcome Back Fund, which is providing councils across England a share of £56 million from the European Regional Development Fund. This is to support the safe return to the city’s High Street after the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be used for a range of environmental improvements, including:

• Clean up and restoration of street furniture – mainly benches in the city centre (clean and paint or treat)
• Increased pressure washing of known toilet and pigeon mess ‘black spots’
• Replanting of flower beds (include total replant and some brickwork repairs will be required)
• Anti-littering posters/triads for littered areas
• Purchase of some new tree guards for city centre tree plantings
• Undertake a ‘deep clean’ of the bus station
• Procure a new Perspex cover for the well at St Paul in the Bail

The funding will also be used to deliver a high-profile free event in Lincoln City centre, which will take place in early 2022 to help increase footfall and support the local economy.

A substantial communications campaign aimed at attracting visitors into the city from across the East Midlands region will also be created.

New city centre signage and general messaging will also be designed and produced, while there are also plans to street dress key areas of the city centre.

The existing footfall counter licence and maintenance agreement will be extended for a period of 12 months.

Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council, said: “All planned activities alongside our partners Visit Lincoln and Lincoln BIG are focused on attracting residents to Lincoln city centre and helping to grow the local economy following the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“As we continue to open up, and welcome back visitors to the city, we aim to attract higher levels of footfall to the city to help grow the local economy and importantly ensure Lincoln continues to be a remarkable city and key tourist destination in the UK. I look forward to seeing works progress through this funding to enhance our great city further.”

Charlotte Goy, Chief Executive at Visit Lincoln, added: “Seeing residents and visitors return to the city over the past few months has been brilliant.

“Partnering with City of Lincoln Council and Lincoln BIG as we enter the festive season will ensure we can amplify support for local businesses. The events and activities will place Lincoln on the map as a tourist destination for the foreseeable future.”

Sarah Loftus, departing Chief Executive at Lincoln BIG, said: “This absolutely fabulous news for the city as we will able to put on some amazing free events in the city centre to attract local residents and visitors to the high street.”

Lincoln’s Foss Bank flood defence work is continuing to make progress, as flood barriers are put up along the river to further protect the city.

The installation of steel piles has now reached the Sincil Dyke area, in order to reinforce existing flood defences and maintain protection standards for years to come.

The £6 million Lincoln Defences Project began in June 2019, as part of a wider scheme to maintain the existing standard of flood-risk protection for around 4,000 homes and businesses in Lincoln.

The areas targeted for additional defences so far have been Stamp End, Dixon Street and Spa Road, as well as the ongoing works at Sincil Dyke next to the LNER Stadium.

Steel piles have been installed at Sincil Dyke to reinforce the existing flood defences in the area. | Photo: Environment Agency Midlands

Once complete, it is anticipated that around two kilometres of defensive walls along the River Witham would have been repaired, and there will be new and improved access to 51 kilometres of waterway for fish and eels.

Morgan Wray, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Lincoln’s network of defensive walls and sluices work well to reduce the risk of flooding to around 4,000 properties.

“Naturally, despite regular maintenance, they do need to be repaired, improved and updated from time to time.

“This investment will ensure they continue to offer the same reliable standard of protection for years to come, while – at the same time – introducing measures that will enhance the environment for wildlife.”

Two years after a visit from the Prime Minister, plans have been unveiled for the new multi-million pound emergency department at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.

PM Boris Johnson paid a visit to Pilgrim Hospital in August 2019 to announce funding for a transformation of the site’s facilities, and since then work has been taking place to finalise designs.

The plans outline how the department will more than double in size with more training rooms for staff, have a much bigger resuscitation zone and more cubicles to treat patients in, as well as having a separate area for emergency care of young patients.

Funding comes directly from government, with some 20 UK hospitals sharing £850 million over a five-year period, as part of a £1.8 billion pledge for the NHS.

The detailed ideas will be submitted to Boston Borough Council as part of the planning process in the coming weeks.

Once planning permission is granted, the hospital will look to get final approval from the Department of Health and Social Care to get the go-ahead for works to begin.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Chief Executive, Andrew Morgan, said: “This is a major milestone in the transformation of the emergency department at Pilgrim hospital.

“It has taken us a while to finalise the plans, but this is because we understand how important it is that we get it right for our patients, their families and our staff.

“We have spoken to all of our colleagues, partner organisations, local groups and our patients as part of this process. This is not only about the care that we provide today, but also for future generations.

“I am assured that this design is going to deliver everything that we need it to and will give our patients and staff the first class environment that they need and deserve.”