Inside Boston’s new huge COVID-19 vaccination centre

After months of construction, the Garth Lane footbridge in Grimsby is now open to the public, as the town’s multi-million pound regeneration scheme gathers momentum.

The area over the River Freshney has been the subject of a widespread makeover in the last year, and this new £3.5 million bridge is the crown jewel of the development.

The old bridge was first lifted from Garth Lane in October, as part of a transformation in the Grimsby area.

Removal of the old footbridge from October 2020. | Footage: NELC

Construction of the new 35 metre long footbridge began just before Christmas in 2020, and after months of preparation it is finally ready for use in Grimsby.

This is what the 35 metre footbridge looks like in the town. | Photo: NELC

The mayor of North East Lincolnshire officially opened the bridge on Tuesday, June 22, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the nearby Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre.

As well as the bridge, tiered seating has been installed down to the water, and new paving, lighting, CCTV and landscaping has been added to the area.

Unique fish benches are also part of the furniture for the scheme. | Photo: NELC

There are also fish benches in place, carved from the wood of the former willow tree, in keeping with Grimsby’s roots.

Any remaining elements of the scheme will be installed in the coming weeks, as Grimsby prepares for completion of this multi-million pound project.

The fish benches mark Grimsby’s heritage and roots in the fishing industry. | Photo: NELC

North East Lincolnshire Council Cabinet member for economic growth, Cllr Callum Procter said: “This is a fantastic step forward for Grimsby in our aim to put pride back into the town centre.

“This whole area shows ambition and a vision to bid for and win significant grant funding to enable such change.

“I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this massively significant project.”

The next three locations in Lincoln for the mobile vaccination unit have now been revealed, including the local mosque and The Arboretum, for people to receive their first COVID-19 jab on a Saturday without needing an advanced booking.

The vaccination bus was set up in Lincoln temporarily to help with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and started in the car park of Bridge Central on Saturday, June 19.

Over the next three weekends, it will allow for anyone who has not yet had their first dose, and is eligible to do so, to turn up and get jabbed without needing to book.

A patient preparing to receive their first jab at Bridge Central in Lincoln.

The service offers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations and will be available between 12pm-3pm on Saturdays at the following locations:

• Saturday, June 26 – The Arboretum (car park by the Monks Road entrance)
• Saturday, July 3 – Brayford Wharf North (near the Square Sail, opposite Lucy Tower Street)
• Saturday, July 10 – Lincoln Central Mosque (Dixon Street, next to Lidl)

Lincoln Central Mosque. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The bus has been 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 also be translation services available at the site, and a dedicated team will be on hand to answer any questions the public have.

Television heartthrob Jake Quickenden tried his costume during a photoshoot ahead of New Theatre Royal Lincoln’s Christmas pantomime, Beauty & The Beast, this winter.

The Scunthorpe-born star, who won Dancing on Ice in 2018, will play the part of baddie Flash Hugo, who is described as an arrogant, self-loving, egotistical, ladies’ man who will stop at nothing to win the hand of Belle.

The Beauty & The Beast Christmas panto will run at the Lincoln theatre been December 10, 2021 and January 9, 2022.

Tickets are on sale priced at £25.50 for adults and £22.50 for anyone under 18 or over 65 – book tickets online here or by calling the box office on 01522 519999.

Jake trying out his costume for the Christmas pantomime Beauty & The Beast, in which he will the part of Flash Hugo.

Joining Jake in the largest ever cast for Lincoln’s longest running traditional pantomime is CBBC’s ‘Yonko’ Chris Johnson as Belle’s father Professor Ivar Brainstorm.

Zoe Hanna May from ITV’s The Voice will play the lead role of Belle. 2016 Britain’s Got Talent finalist Christian Lee will play Marcel Allumette, the quirky candelabra.

Smile for the camera Jake!

Strengthening this star-studded cast will be Lincoln’s own Chris Hayes and Paul Aitchison, who played Friar Tuck and Nurse Nora respectively in the theatre’s production of Robin Hood in 2019.

Georgia Hayes-Cowley and James de Lauch Hay will also feature in the pantomime, while Camilia O’Grady, Vanessa Dumatey and Laura Wenton will be making their New Theatre Royal Lincoln debuts.

Jake Quickenden will star in the New Theatre Royal Lincoln’s Christmas panto between December 10, 2021 and January 9, 2022.

Natalie Hayes-Cowley, the theatre’s Artistic Director and the show’s producer, previously said: “You can expect to see this beautiful story come to life on stage thanks to a huge multi-talented cast, with fabulous dance routines, incredible singers performing cult classic songs, along with the classic comedy, fun, and games you would expect – with an extra touch of MAGIC! This enchanting tale as old as time has something for everyone young and old.”