Nearly 2,000 people have been given more than £900,500 in self isolation payments by councils across Greater Lincolnshire.
As part of the government’s response to the pandemic, residents who are told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace and who are on low income or facing financial hardship because of it, can claim £500.
However, research by the Trades Union Congress has said the support has been patchy, with around 74% of applications nationally rejected.
The figures include both the main support scheme and a discretionary scheme for those who have an income of no more than £375 a week or £1612.52 a month before deductions.
The City of Lincoln Council has given the most help with 342 payments totalling £171,000. It is followed by South Kesteven District Council with 274 payments totalling £137,000 and East Lindsey with 216 payments totalling £108,000.
Leader of WLDC Councillor Owen Bierley said: “Self-isolation is one of the most powerful tools we have in controlling the spread of COVID-19.
“The Test and Trace Support payment is there to help any residents who need to self-isolate, but need financial support to get them through their period of isolation.
“I encourage anyone in the district to come forward if they need support whilst self-isolating.
“Our infection rates are dropping and are encouraging, and we must work together to keep them that way and lower them further.”
North East Lincolnshire Council has confirmed it has made 417 payments – a total of £208,500.
Councillor Stan Shreeve, deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “It’s important that those residents being hit hardest by coronavirus get the support that they need.
“This payment is expected to help offset the income lost by those who find themselves having to self-isolate and stay off work for a period.
“I would urge people who feel unwell and start to show symptoms of COVID-19 to self-isolate, book a test, and stop the spread of the virus.”
This is the list in full from most payments:
North East Lincolnshire – 417 payments – £208,500
Lincoln – 342 – £171,000k
South Kesteven – 274 – £137,000
East Lindsey – 216 – £108,000
North Kesteven – 195 – £97,500
Boston – 129 – £64,500
South Holland – 122- £61,000
West Lindsey – 106 – £53,000
North Lincolnshire – Not responded by the time of publication
Rejection rates high
The Trade Union Congress, however, has published figures up to January 6 saying that rejection levels are far too high and criteria too strict.
In Lincolnshire for instance West Lindsey District Council had an 80% rejection rate, while Lincoln had 72%, North Kesteven had 73% and Boston had 74%.
The TUC has called for statutory sick pay to be extended to “the equivalent of a real living rage”.
To be eligible for the main Test and Trace Support Payment, you must:
have been told to stay at home and self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 App
have responded to messages received from NHS Test and Trace in which you have provided your contact details and where you have tested positive, the details of your contacts
be employed or self-employed
not have been on furlough in the week before you were asked to self-isolate
be unable to work from home
Be on a low income and facing financial hardship
And currently receiving, or are the partner of someone in the same household who is receiving:
Universal Credit
Working Tax Credit
Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income Support
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit
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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.
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.”
The third phase of a 200-home development in Boston has been submitted for final approval by the council.
Chestnut Homes has asked Boston Borough Council to give the go ahead to a further 70 homes off Wyberton Low Road. If they are successful, it will leave only 22 homes to go to finish the major development project known as Heron Park.
The development will see a mixture of one-three bedroom homes with the majority being two storey homes, but some bungalows also placed next to neighbouring properties in the north eastern corner. A third of the site will be public open space.
In documents submitted to Boston Borough Council, the applicant said: “The proposals follow the principles of the approved masterplan… will create a strong sense of place, and will deliver a locally inspired housing development where people will want to live.”
The site will be accessed from a road created in the first phase of the development.
The Heron Park masterplan was approved at outline stage in 2018 with 71 homes in the first phase given permission to go ahead.
How the third phase of the development would be laid out.
Phase two, for 32 homes on the site has also since been given the go ahead and a further application for five homes is being considered.
So far, 103 out of 120 homes requested to be classed as “affordable” have been provided within the development and Chestnut Homes says that if they cannot find suitable Registered Providers in this phase the next 22-home plan will still be able to meet the last 17 homes asked for in the Section 106 agreement.
Petrol prices have reached the highest levels in almost a decade, with most fuel stations in Lincoln charging over 140p a litre.
The UK’s average petrol price soared to 142.94p a litre on Sunday, October 24, which is the highest it has been since April 2012, according to RAC Fuel Watch data.
The price has spiked by 28p a litre in just one year, driven primarily by the rising oil prices, as well as September’s switch to the greener E10 petrol, which has a greater ethanol percentage than the previous E5.
Ethanol is more expensive than petrol, so the introduction of a greater ethanol percentage means an increase in cost to produce the E10 compared to E5.
It isn’t believed to be connected to the fuel frenzy earlier this year, which saw drivers across the country scramble to fill up their cars amid rumours of a shortage.
The petrol station on Newark Road in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
PetrolPrices.com update the cost of unleaded and diesel at fuel stations across the country on a weekly basis, and in the Lincoln area the cheapest petrol you can get is 138.9p a litre, as of Wednesday, October 26.
Here are the cheapest places to get fuel in Lincoln:
Gulf Co-op winning post service station, Carholme Road – 138.9p for both unleaded and diesel
The RAC is now calling on government to introduce a temporary VAT reduction for big retailers, in order to bring prices back to pre-pandemic levels.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “This is truly a dark day for drivers, and one which we hoped we wouldn’t see again after the high prices of April 2012. This will hurt many household budgets and no doubt have knock-on implications for the wider economy.
“The big question now is: where will it stop and what price will petrol hit? If oil gets to $100 a barrel, we could very easily see the average price climb to 150p a litre.”
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