Over 40% of Lincolnshire people now had second dose of COVID vaccine

A Scunthorpe landlord has been hit with a fine of more than £4,200 for providing tenants with a home so unsafe it was deemed ‘an imminent risk to life’.

North Lincolnshire Council brought a prosecution against Mohammed Qadeer under the Housing Act 2004 after an inspection on the property revealed serious safety breaches.

Officers discovered hazardous electrics with bare wires exposed in the bathroom and electrical sockets in rooms exposing connections.

There was no fire detection system in the property and no door on the kitchen which was the only form of access. There was no proper form of heating and the tenants were using portable heaters. Kitchen and living room windows were also broken.

The council served a Prohibition Order on the defendant, which prevented the use of the property for residential use until the hazards were repaired.

Following a re-inspection of the property, officers discovered the property was still occupied in breach of the Prohibition Order and prosecuted Mr Qadeer.

The government is concerned about the standard of electrics in rented accommodation and has given councils new powers to issue fines of up to £30,000 where the electrics in properties have not been properly inspected.

Councillor John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities – urban, said: “The vast majority of landlords provide tenants with good quality, safe accommodation.

“Where landlords refuse to comply with their legal duties, our officers will not hesitate to step in and take enforcement action where necessary, even where landlords live outside North Lincolnshire.

“This prosecution should act as a warning to other landlords who may be inclined to cut corners and endanger their tenants.”

Three-way temporary lights and pedestrian crossings will be in operation for six weeks of works to make a busy North Hykeham junction safer.

Work to improve the pedestrian crossing and traffic signals at the junction of Newark Road and Station Road will start on Thursday, July 22, 2021, but it will remain open.

However, Moor Lane will be closed at its junction with Newark Road, with traffic diverted via Lincoln Road, Hykeham Road and A1434 Newark Road, and vice versa.

The works are expected to be finished by Friday, September 3.

The traffic lights at the junction will be replaced with new, ultra-low voltage equipment to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the crossing.

Work will also take place to make the junction safer for pedestrians. The traffic islands will be removed so people will be able to cross the road in one go. People will also be able to cross diagonally, saving some from needing to cross twice.

Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways on Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This is a very busy junction, and with three schools all in close proximity, it’s only right that we bring it up to the latest standards.

“Removing the islands means the crossings are no longer staggered, and there won’t be a temptation to dash to the middle when the light is red.

“By moving the pedestrian lights to the nearside – rather than across the road – it’ll also be immediately clear whether it’s safe to cross or not. And you’ll be able to cross in one fell swoop, either straight over or diagonally.”

Card Factory will open a new shop in Lincoln this weekend in the unit formerly occupied by Carphone Warehouse at Valentine Retail Park.

The specialist card and gifting retailer will open in Unit 2A in the retail park off Tritton Road on Saturday, June 26. This comes after a planning application was submitted to City of Lincoln Council in March this year.

The store, which sells a variety of party, gifts, stationary and confectionery items, will create around four to eight new jobs at various levels, both full and part-time.

Steve Lilley, Card Factory’s Retail Director, said: “Our team has been working incredibly hard to prepare for this new opening and we’re so excited to be launching a Card Factory store in Lincoln, especially due to the difficult economic environment retailers have experienced recently.

“We’ve put together a standout team, and we can’t wait to welcome new customers into our premises at Valentine Retail Park on Saturday 26th.

“As with all of our physical stores, safety is the number one priority as we welcome customers through our doors, so we would like to reassure everyone that we have a strict social distancing policy and regular cleaning regime to ensure the safety of both our customers and colleagues.”

Card Factory also has two other Lincoln stores located on the High Street and in the Cornhill area of the city.