Booster jabs open in Lincoln and Boston after 3,250 COVID cases recorded so far this week

Lincoln City earned a brilliant point on the road with a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday over the weekend, but the result was tarnished by crowded trains, fan troubles and some supporters not even making it to the stadium.

The Imps took over 3,000 fans to Hillsborough on Saturday, October 23, for their League One match with Sheffield Wednesday, and it was a fantastic result for Lincoln who earned a 1-1 draw thanks to Lewis Montsma’s late goal.

However, it was a day that will be remembered for what happened off the pitch more than anything else, as fan rivalry reached boiling point at times in Sheffield.

There have been multiple reports of fans being refused at the train station and told to go home, despite showing South Yorkshire Police officers their tickets for the game.

As well as this, fans were apparently crammed into train carriages that were not prepared for the volume of Imps supporters coming to and from Sheffield for the game, while some were refused a spot on the train at all.

Northern Rail has said that it was using “all available resources” to transport travelling fans to Sheffield, and confirmed services were “extremely busy” on the day.

There was trouble inside the ground also, with multiple supporters saying that an Imps fan was struck on the head with a flare that had been thrown from the away end containing over 3,000 travelling Lincoln fans.

Gary Hutchinson of The Stacey West Blog gave his perspective of the day, and described the atmosphere within the city of Sheffield in the build up to the match as not “entirely pleasant”.

He wrote in his review of the game: “All of the stories I’m hearing are about Lincoln City fans, and that’s just not fair on the 99% of honest fans who want to sit or stand, drink and sing or watch and observe.

“It’s not fair on the club either, who will have to start paying money to have games policed. You’re not just affecting families in Sheffield; you’re clearly affecting other supporters, those sent home and those who sit in the stands in silence because if they speak up, they’re scared of getting shouted at or worse.”

South Yorkshire Police have been accused of treating Lincoln City fans “like animals” as hundreds of supporters were herded at Sheffield train station before being asked to turn around and go home.

A large police presence could be seen outside the train station, after reports of bottles being thrown by Lincoln supporters, though these reports are totally unconfirmed and it is unclear if any arrests were made.

SYP’s only mention of proceedings as yet is a reply on Twitter about a police horse slipping on tram tracks after dealing with a disturbance near Hillsborough, saying that both the horse and the officer are now fine.

Lincoln City supporters group the 617 Squadron took to social media calling the scenes “absolutely disgraceful” and said what happened today “wasn’t legal and wasn’t right”.

Imps Chief Executive Liam Scully posted on Twitter to say that he is pushing for a “full and transparent review of action taken”, and has encouraged any supporters who missed the game to email [email protected] with a full account of proceedings.

The Lincolnite has contacted South Yorkshire Police for a statement, but are yet to receive a reply at the time of publication.

A historic windmill which threatens to ‘collapse like a pack of cards’ will be brought back to life.

The antique machinery will be removed from Hewson’s Mill in Barton, and it will be converted into accommodation before it falls down.

The developer says it would be the last chance to save the mill tower.

However, an expert warned the process would effectively be playing “hook a duck” with antique machinery.

The change has been approved along with permission for eight other dwellings built nearby after the decision by North Lincolnshire Council’s planning committee.

The proposed plans for Hewson’s Mill in Barton. | Image: NLC

Garry Whall of Keigar Homes told the committee: “This is an unsteady, dangerous, unsafe derelict mill.

“It hasn’t had a roof for 35 years. Everything that can be saved has been saved.

“An engineer told us ‘it is about to collapse like a pack of cards’.

“This application was submitted nearly two years ago, and we have run around in circles to resolve all concerns. This is a chance to save the mill before it falls down.

“Barton Town Council supports this application as it would save the structure of the mill, which no one else wants to take on.

“The change would help to make Barton the tourism capital of the area.

“It will save this building from turning into a pile of bricks and rubble, and bring it back to life for many years to come.”

Another aerial visual for the proposed plans for Hewson’s Mill in Barton. | Image: NLC

However, an expert in historic windmills from Barton Civic Society said the method of removing antique machinery was completely unsuitable.

“I examined this mill a few years ago, and very strongly object to the plans,” she said.

“Windmills get treated as buildings, rather than machinery. You wouldn’t rip the workings out of Stephenson’s Rocket and call it preservation.

“If it must be approved, I ask that you change condition which calls for removing the machinery from above.

“This would effectively be playing hook a duck with fragile machinery using a crane.”

Councillor Richard Hannigan admitted the application was a “conundrum.”

He said: “It is very important to preserve our heritage, but it is also critical to make buildings fit for modern use.”

The committee eventually passed the application unanimously, rejecting the call to change the method of removing the machinery.

They also ignored Keigar Homes’ request for work to be permitted to start half an hour earlier each day.

Completed flood defences along the Humber will offer peace of mind for a community which has suffered terrible damage in the past.

The £14 million project could prevent £250million in damages as it protects South Ferriby.

3km of new and raised embankments have been built around the village and the Cemex plant.

The project has also seen concrete walls, a flood gate and movable defences installed around the East Drain and the Hope and Anchor pub.

13-metre long flood gates can be slid across the A1077 in just 15 minutes in a first for the country’s A-roads.

It also protects 150 homes, the vital Grimsby-Scunthorpe rail line and 3,000 hectares of agricultural land.

Part of the new South Ferriby flood defences. | Photo: Jamie Waller

The worst tidal surge in living memory devastated the North Lincolnshire village in 2013, costing an estimated £50billion in economic damage to houses and the Cemex plant.

The Environment Agency, which has led the project,  say the defences will hopefully prevent a repeat of the disaster, even with rising sea levels.

Area director Norman Robinson said: “If you talk to anyone locally, the experience of 2013 was very traumatic. Seeing people throw wrapped Christmas presents into skips because their houses have been flooded with seawater is poignant for most and has left a scar,” he said.

“Over the course of its life, if the defence operates as we have designed it, the community will save about £250million in costs in terms of flooding that will occur.

“For us, it’s a fantastic day. For the community, it brings some peace of mind after the bad experiences of 2013.”

Raised banks as part og the new South Ferriby flood defences. | Photo: Jamie Waller
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The embankment’s height has been increased to deal with rising sea levels in the future.

“All our schemes take into account climate change predictions for the next 50 to 100 years,” Mr Robinson said.

“What we can’t do though is guarantee there will never be more flooding.

“Engineering has to be set to a certain level. What we saw in 2013 is water is the water coming over that level. This scheme will now protect against that, but with climate change, the next 50 to 100 years will be quite testing for us all.

“We will have to work with coastal communities for the next 20 to 30 years to think about how we adapt to the challenges of climate change. We will be back at some point to think about how rising sea levels will affect that.”

The defences were officially opened by Environment Agency chief executive Sir James Bevan.

South Ferriby Parish Councillor Sara Haddon chaired the village’s flood defence committee.

“Residents of South Ferriby are delighted that the new defences are complete. Memories of the 2013 floods are still raw, and the new defences mean that they can sleep easy as we approach the coming winter,” she said.

Funding and support for the scheme came from the government, North Lincolnshire Council, CEMEX, the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and South Ferriby Council.

Further flood resilience measures are underway to protect 20 homes in Winteringham.