A true lifesaver: Tributes to EMAS paramedic of over two decades

Lincoln MP Karl McCartney was one of just 23 members of parliament to vote against new mask wearing rules and one of 36 to say ‘no’ to self-isolation regulations against COVID-19.

Some 434 MPs voted in favour of the new mask wearing rules on November 30, which made it mandatory to wear face coverings in shops and on public transport in England.

The rules were brought in amid fears of the increased infection rates of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, but 23 Conservative MPs voted against their party to try to reject the proposal.

Among those 23 MPs was Lincoln’s Karl McCartney, who has often rebelled against his party’s COVID-19 regulations, having also been the only Lincolnshire MP to go against extending the Coronavirus Act in March this year.

There were plenty of members of parliament who did not record a vote in this, including the Health Secretary Sajid Javid and the Prime Minister himself Boris Johnson.

As well as this, both Javid and Johnson did not vote on the self-isolation regulations, which will see all travellers returning to the UK taking a PCR test and self-isolating until they receive a negative result, as well as all contacts of suspected Omicron cases, regardless of vaccination status.

Mr McCartney was again the only Lincolnshire MP, and one of just 36 members in the House of Commons, to vote no to the new self-isolation rules, but were outdone by 431 to 36 in the vote.

The Lincolnite approached Karl McCartney for a statement on this, but were once again greeted with no response.

Renewed appeal for information

We are asking for help to find Andrej who has been missing for 33 days.  We are getting increasingly concerned for him and ask anyone who may have seen or heard from him to get in touch.

If you have seen him or know where he is, please get in touch.

• By calling 101 quoting incident 306 of 2nd November.
• By emailing [email protected] – don’t forget to quote incident 306 of 2nd November in the subject line.
• Through the independent charity missing people. You can call or text 116 000 or email [email protected]

Original post – 4 November 2021

We are continuing to appeal for information to find missing man Andrej.

The 43-year-old was reported missing from his home in Boston.

Andrej is described as a white male who is 6ft tall with short, dark brown hair. He is of a slim build and has green eyes with a scar near his left eye. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black or grey trousers.

If you have seen him or know where he is, please get in touch.

• By calling 101 quoting incident 306 of 2nd November.
• By emailing [email protected] – don’t forget to quote incident 306 of 2nd November in the subject line.
• Through the independent charity missing people. You can call or text 116 000 or email [email protected]

Reference: Incident 306 of 2nd November

The old police station on West Parade in Lincoln is now on the market and the future sale will raise money for investment in new equipment for the force.

It was the end of an era when the affectionally-termed ‘Ryvita Building’, which belongs to the office of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner, closed to the public on November 17, 2019. More services were wound down in the weeks that followed before completing a move into the Blue Light Hub on South Park.

Initially Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones had hoped to find a use for the building, which could have a positive economic or social impact on the city.

Unfortunately, after months working with Investors in Lincoln to examine a host of different projects, it became clear the impact of lockdown in the economy had scuppered plans to develop the site which police had been using since the mid 1970s, with partners.

Mr Jones has now pushed forward with plans to sell the building, but no indication of price has been publicly disclosed. The revenue gained will come in capital receipts, so can only be spent on equipment such as new vehicles, drones, and radios, or on other police buildings.

Inside Lincoln Police Station. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

He said: “I had really hoped we could find an innovative way forward for the building and working with private and public sector partners we investigated a range of possibilities from low cost housing for front line workers to business start up space.

“But the Covid pandemic not only delayed things it also started to impact the cost of potential options and I was becoming increasingly concerned that the building would lay empty for too long.

“I’ve done my best to explore every possible option but it looks as if the best route is to sell the building on the open market.

“That does mean we can raise valuable funds and invest them in our work to keep communities and residents safe.”

The custody suite at Lincoln Police Station on West Parade. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

When the West Parade station closed in 2019, The Lincolnite went to meet up with one local family who shared more than 50 years of policing memories. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Myers joined Lincolnshire Police in 1990 before retiring in 2020, while his dad Walter worked in CID after joining the force in 1961.