Hundreds of candidates across the county will be hoping for your X in their box tomorrow (Thursday, May 6) as no fewer than three elections take place.
Voters will be asked to vote for their Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, along with their ward representatives on Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and City of Lincoln Council.
In total there are nearly 100 positions to be filled by 366 candidacies – so how will this year’s elections work?
Polling, counting and results
Polling stations across the area will be open from 7am to 10pm tomorrow, and voters will find the address for their venue on their polling cards.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be several noticeable changes, with thousands of items of personal protection equipment stored at councils across Lincolnshire as officers ramp up preparations.
For instance, queues will look much longer due to social distancing. But don’t worry, staff will be working to get people through the door as fast as possible.
Polling stations will have hand sanitiser on arrival, voters will be asked to wear face coverings and socially distance.
Speaking of staff, you may notice they will be protected this year, from masks all the way to protective screens.
Due to the changes, the councils will not be counting votes overnight. Instead, the next few days will look like this:
Thursday, May 6 – Voting takes place from 7am to 10pm
Thursday night – Votes in Lincolnshire will be verified
Friday morning – County council votes will be counted and announced, North East Lincolnshire will verify its votes
Friday afternoon – City council and North East Lincolnshire council votes will be counted and announced
Saturday – Votes for the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner counted and announced
Lincolnshire County Council
Leaders of the four main parties in Lincolnshire.
More than 250 candidates in almost 70 wards are standing in the Lincolnshire County Council elections.
The Conservatives have overall control of the council with 54 of 70 seats, with Labour having five and needing to gain 50 seats for a majority.
The Independents currently have six seats, independent (non-aligned councillors) have two, Liberal Democrats have one and Lincolnshire Independents also have one. There is a vacancy currently at Market Rasen Wolds ward.
Counts for the county council will take place within each of the seven district councils, with returning officers relaying the information back to a main results centre at the County Offices in Lincoln.
From left, Green candidate Matt Parr, Labour leader Ric Metcalfe, Conservative leader Thomas Dyer and Liberal Democrat candidate Clare Smalley.
Almost 50 candidates in 11 wards are standing in the City of Lincoln elections next month.
Labour has overall control of the council with 24 seats, while the Conservatives have nine and needing to gain eight seats for a majority.
In a series of interviews with Local Democracy Reporters, Labour Party leader Ric Metcalfe said he wanted to build on the success of the party over its last decade in power.
He said his party’s record for the city would help his members to victory, praising the council’s help for residents during COVID-19, significant resistance to the financial crisis, building new car parks and bus stations and moving forward on delivering 500 new homes.
However, Conservative Thomas Dyer said it was “time for change” and said his party hoped to topple their opponents.
He promoted pop-in parking in the town centre, better infrastructure, more action of climate change and bringing forward the £25million Town Deal schemes.
Parties hoping to get their foot in the door included the Liberal Democrats whose priorities include tougher measures on fly-tipping and protecting front-line services, while the Greens wanted to ensure energy efficient homes were in the right place and away from flood plains, while wildflower habitats along grass verges would promote the storage of CO2 and reduce the frequency of mowing.
Labour leader Councillor Matthew Patrick (left) and Conservative boss Councillor Philip Jackson.
There are 61 candidates contesting 14 ward seats in the North East Lincolnshire Council elections next month.
Conservatives took overall control of the council in 2019 after gaining five sears to a total of 23. The party wrestled control from a Labour/Liberal Democrat alliance, with the former party now holding 14 seats and the latter now having four.
Ahead of the election Labour had faced a number of controversial decisions, including the Toll Bar Roundabout and their former party leader being arrested (and later in the year convicted) for drink-driving.
However, it’s entirely possible the red wall in the unitary authority could be rebuilt with just a few reclaimed chairs in the council hall.
Despite some successes over the past two years the Conservatives have seen their own choices questioned and their own controversy around their (now resigned) deputy leader Councillor John Fenty’s dealings with a convicted fraudster.
He said the party had been and would continue to “slowly but surely” rebuild residents trust, and his party this year are focusing on clean streets, tackling fly-tipping, boosting the economic growth of the area, protecting support for more vulnerable residents and increasing mental health support.
However, Conservative leader Philip Jackson felt his party had proved themselves in their first two years in power and said residents recognised the good progress made despite COVID-19.
He pointed to the party’s immediate success with the Toll Bar Roundabout.
His plan is to build on things like street cleaning, the Town Deal, the regeneration of Grimsby and Cleethorpes and increasing recycling rates.
The Lincolnshire Police and Crime candidates faced off on a live streamed hustings.
The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections has five candidates all fighting for the position.
Votes will be asked to select their first and second preference at the polling booths.
The PCC oversees the strategy and finances of the force, and also hires and fires chief constables, who are responsible for the daily policing operations.
Marc Jones was the second-elected PCC of Lincolnshire in May 2016 and this time his role is being challenged by Labour City of Lincoln councillor Rosanne Kirk and Chair of the Lincolnshire Police Independent Advisory Group (IAG), David Williams from the Lincolnshire Independents party, Ross Pepper from the Liberal Democrats and Peter Escreet from the Reform Party.
She also wants to scrap the “unelected” position of deputy PCC, estimated at £72,000 across four years, and put that money towards tackling rural crime.
David wants to use his experience of working for Lincolnshire Police Independent Advisory Group as well as with youth offenders to increase community engagement and boost the visibility of the PCC and its deputy who, he said, will be a female and from a diverse background if he is elected.
He said that as PCC he would not just attend meetings, but drive the agenda for the county going forward.
Ross Pepper said the current “crime and punishment approach doesn’t seem to work” and he wants to look at the root causes of crime to prevent it from happening, claiming that “fighting crime when it happens is crucially vital, but crime prevention is equally as, if not more, important as well.”
His other key priorities are fair funding for Lincolnshire Police, a return to community policing, tackling serious crime, support for victims, safer streets and a crackdown on speeding traffic.
All the candidates have said they will call for more money from Central Government for Lincolnshire Police – the worst funded force in the country.
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A horse, a dog and a deer were rescued from the water during a busy weekend for Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, who also saved a stuck pigeon.
A crew from Saxilby and water rescue team Gainsborough Fire Station attended Brayford Pool on Saturday, May 15 to reports of a dog in the water. A passing boat took the crew out to the island, who rescued the dog that fortunately was uninjured.
On the same day a horse, named Luna, was found stuck in the river at Rivermead in North Hykeham. She was rescued using lines and stropes.
Fire crews from Lincoln helped to rescue a distressed horse called Luna from the river. | Photo: Tegan Harteveld
The horse was checked over by a vet and was uninjured. The other horses are now safely back in the field.
Luna’s owner Tegan Harteveld told The Lincolnite that someone had trespassed in the nearby field and opened the gate, meaning over 10 horses got out with her beloved animal ending up in the river.
The vet was called immediately, who sedated Luna and Tegan believes the next couple of days will be crucial due to the adrenaline wearing off.
Luna after being pulled out of the river near Lincoln. | Photo: Tegan Harteveld
Luna safely on dry land after being rescued from the water by fire crews. | Photo: Tegan Harteveld
Tegan with her beloved horse Luna. | Photo: Tegan Harteveld
She said: “You hear stories of horses ending up in ditches and rivers, but you never expect the phone call to be about your own animal.
“The next thing most owners think, myself included, is how they got out. When I found out it was by a person/people, I was angry and very upset.
“This could have been avoided at all costs. They had no right to be in that field, it’s private land. Now my horse and myself are paying the price for someone’s stupidity and ignorance.
“I’m just relieved that the amazing fire brigade managed to pull her out and she was the only one in. If there had been multiple horses, I doubt the outcome would have been a success.”
Fire crews helped to pull the horse to safety.
A healthy Luna before her terrifying ordeal. | Photo: Tegan Harteveld
This is Luna- the beautiful horse rescued by crews from Rivermead near Lincoln yesterday. Thankfully she’s doing ok now. Animal rescue is an important part of the work our crew do #notjustfirespic.twitter.com/0cOyaCqBFQ
— Lincs Fire & Rescue (@LincsFireRescue) May 16, 2021
On the same day, crews help a deer stuck in the Fossdyke Canal. The deer was rescued from the water by crews and released back into the wild.
Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue also helped the RSPCA rescue a poor pigeon in Boston on Sunday, May 16.
Over the last few weeks The Lincolnite readers have been voting for their favourite IMP from this year’s trail and the results are in.
With almost 25,000 votes for the 31 IMPs, the winner — by over 700 votes — is the Steam Explorer by artist Rosie Ablewhite, sponsored by Jacksons Workwear Rental, with a total of 4,443 votes.
Following closely behind was Majestic by Lizzy Mason, sponsored by Saul Fairholm, and Girls Can by Rosie Ablewhite, sponsored by Girlguiding in Lincolnshire with 3,654 and 3,328 votes respectively.
The much-anticipated Lincoln IMP Trail will be on show across the city from July 3 until September 8 after being postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay tuned for the locations reveal soon.
After the main trail, the IMPs will come together to form a guard of honour at Lincoln Castle before moving to Lincoln Cathedral on Lincolnshire Day, October 1, for an auction to raise funds for organisers Lincoln BIG’s charity partner, St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.
The 31 imps were designed by national and local artists who were successful following a competition and selection process by the sponsors. There are also five smaller roving community imps, including Wind, which The Lincolnite adopted.
Lincoln’s new arcade bar Carousel will open on the High Street next week after more than £1 million of investment — and The Lincolnite went to check it out for a sneak peek.
Carousel will open in the building formerly occupied by Ruddocks on Wednesday, May 19. It includes various experience zones, including simulation shooting range Quickdraw, Shuffle board, social darts with interactive lanes, and a plethora of arcade machines.
The arcade machines include Time Crisis, Daytona racing, Sonic and Mario at the Olympics and Down the Clowns, as well as a dance mat, basketball hoops and air hockey.
Sit down have a drink, eat some food and play some games at Carousel. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Plenty of arcade machines to try. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Social darts with a difference, including various mini games. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tables can be pre-booked for food and drinks, or experience areas for fun and games, both via Carousel’s website. Walk-ins will be accepted from the opening date on May 19, but due to the coronavirus restrictions the venue’s capacity will be limited initially.
There is a wide range of food ranging from large plates, such as the Carousel beef brisket, to burgers, hot dogs and plank pizzas.
There are also small plates including Halloumi sticks, Korean BBQ Bao buns, sweet chilli chicken skewers and Bombay Caulibombs.
The variety of drinks includes beers, wines, spirits, alcoholic and non-alcoholic slushies and a what is described as an “Instagram worthy” cocktail menu.
Carousel’s “Instagram worthy’ cocktail menu includes these drinks. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Fortune Favours is a vodka-based cocktail, with peach liqueur, pineapple juice and grenadine. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Tropic Like It’s Hot contains gin, elderflower, apple juice, cranberry juice, lime and mint. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The cocktail menu at Carousel.
Carousel has created 40 new jobs for the local community and Operations Manager David Nejrup can’t wait for the venue to welcome its first customers.
He told The Lincolnite: “We are delighted to launch our new concept Carousel in the city.
“Carousel has been in development for over two years. In that time and through our research and development, we noticed a shift in what guests wanted from a new bar concept.
“We found that guests wanted more than the usual extensive product range, amazing cocktails and fantastic food. They wanted to be entertained and have an experience while socialising and at Carousel we feel we have created just that.
“Not only do we have a fantastic street food-inspired food menu, an extensive selection of draught beers, wines and spirts and an Instagram worthy cocktail menu, we have taken competitive socialising to the next level. There is so much to do here, there is something for everyone.”
Smoked salmon salad. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Pulled beef brisket and the cheese burger are just some of the tasty menu items at Carousel. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Or why not whet your appetite with a tasty Halloumi dish? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Carousel is operated by Lindum Leisure, which is leasing the building and has links to a group of businesses including Home, Curiosity Shop and Craft.
Carousel is located on Lincoln High Street in the building formerly occupied by Ruddocks. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Detective Constable Aaron Flint of Grantham is appealing for witnesses and information following the report of substantial damage being caused to Ancaster Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Branches have been cut from trees, some of which are hundreds of years old and rubbish, including tyres, wood, and other items, have been dumped at the site. It is believed this has happened sometime during the last two weeks.
The area in question is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage a SSSI.
The penalty for this offence up until 2015 was a fine of up to £20,000. This has now been changed giving the courts the power to give an unlimited fine.
There were a number of tyres at the site. Photo Lincolnshire Police
DC Flint said: “These sites are extremely fragile and highly vulnerable to damage. We will be working closely with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to identify the offenders and bring them to justice. This is not only a mindless and selfish act of vandalism but also serious crime against our environment.
“We take all reports of wildlife crime very seriously. We would encourage anyone who has been in this area in the last two weeks and may have any information, not matter how irrelevant you may feel it is, to contact us on 101.”
Garden furniture was also found. Photo Lincolnshire Police
Rachel Shaw, spokesman for Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, added: “This is a senseless act of vandalism to a wonderful nature reserve. It’s also a drain on our resources as it’s likely to be costly to remove, and, most concerning of all, the damage to the trees and shrubs will have a long term impact.
“A number of trees have had branches removed and bark damage that may affect their survival. The shrubs that have been damaged are box. Box is very slow growing and unfortunately some of the stems cut and damaged are over 100 years old so will take a long time to regenerate.”
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is an area that’s of particular interest to science due to the presence of rare species of fauna and flora, important geological or physiological features. These areas are of very high conservation value, and need to be protected.
DC Flint is asking for anyone who may have information about this offence to contact 101 or crime stoppers quoting occurrence number 21000263099 or by emailing him directly at [email protected]
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