Government guidance for those in the ‘shielding’ category – those who are extremely vulnerable from Covid-19, is changing.

Many will have been in isolation since Mid-March and may feel daunted as they again venture out into the wider world.

Local resident Sue McQuinn, known to many for her personal involvement in trying to resolve issues concerning the changes to Hospital car parking, expressed her concern that a lot of the general public may not be aware that some are more at risk than others, and that a means to alert them to maintain social distancing was maybe required.

Sue posted a suggestion on the Grantham Area Covid-19 Support Page on Facebook that perhaps an armband for those in this category might help. This received a very positive response from many members of the Group. 

A Local Grantham Company, Print Bureau Team, located on Alma Park Industrial Estate, despite only having just themselves returned to business following the lockdown, responded.

They sourced a hi-viz armband that was suitable for a large enough message to be printed upon that could be read from a distance. This would enable members of the Public to be aware of those at higher risk and take additional care with Social distancing.

It would also give staff at premises they visit a heads up on their status. 

This is not the first time that Print Bureau Team have responded to the needs of the local community. In the past they provided the banners, placards, clothing and stickers in support of saving our hospital’s A&E, many of which can still be seen around town.

A limited supply of these bespoke armbands will be available at Wednesday vigils between 5.30 and 7pm near the entrance to the hospital, ask for Bernice.

The minimum subsidised price is £2 each, proceeds will be going to the Air Ambulance so, if possible, greater donations would be appreciated.

A trial re-wilding project to enable pockets of land owned by South Kesteven District Council to go back to nature was launched today (9 July). 

Green space sites have been chosen in Market Deeping and Stamford as part of SKDC’s commitment to increase wildlife habitat and improve biodiversity. Others are planned for Bourne and Grantham.

Cllr Dr Peter Moseley, Cabinet  Member for Commercial and Operations visited the first site, a strip of land at the northern edge of public space adjacent to Tattershall Drive in Market Deeping, to mark the start of the project.

He was joined by fellow SKDC councillors and supporters of the project, Ashley Baxter, Bob Broughton and Virginia Moran. 

Cllr Dr Moseley said:  “I hope that people, and children in particular, can use this site as a way to learn more about our natural world.

“We have chosen these sites very carefully. We are committed to high standards of greenspace maintenance across the district and the concept of re-wilding is only appropriate in some places.

“We are always keen to look at ways to improve the environment across the district but we will be seeking people’s opinions as these sites develop. 

“We are allowing tall grasses to grow and other plant species to flourish, encouraging wildlife, insects, birds and mammals to create a balanced natural environment.

“Increased biodiversity is extremely important to the health of our local communities and the district as a whole. This is not about trying to save money but actually re-connecting people with nature at minimal cost.

“We will need to give these areas at least two years to establish to see the benefit and I would politely ask people to respect that and stay off them so nature can really take a hold.”

Local councillors were consulted over appropriate re-wilding sites and signage will explain how they will contribute to the local environment. 

Three trees will be planted on the area in the winter, and  SKDC has said that, if the re-wilding areas get too overgrown or unpleasant, they will be cut again.

The Foxglove play area on Stamford’s Rutland Heights is the second planned re-wilding site, with another being considered in Bourne. In Grantham, the location is part of the Blue Green environmental project in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Work completed on new Grantham University Centre

The A1 Southbound is closed, stationary traffic due to overturned car and accident between  the A46 (Newark Showground/Air Museum Turn Off, Newark-on-Trent) to B1174 (Marston Turn Off).

The road remains closed after second collision involving two cars on the northbound side.

One of the cars has crossed the central reservation and struck another car on the southbound side.

 Trapped traffic remains within the closure

The first set of bridge beams have been lifted into place over the west side of the A1, forming an integral part of the Grantham Southern Relief Road.

Cllr Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, said: “This is big milestone for the relief road, since it signifies the progress we’re making on one of the most complicated parts of the project.

“Now that all sixteen of these beams are in place on the western side, Galliford Try will make a start building the first half of the bridge deck over top of them.

“Once the team is finished the first half of the new A1 bridge, traffic will be diverted onto it as work on the eastern side begins – including lifting thirteen more beams into place.”

Below are some facts and figures about the bridge beams and the new bridge, itself:

The beams were lifted into place overnight from Mon 6 to Weds 8 July

·         All the bridge beams have been / will be manufactured by Shay Murtagh’s in Ireland

·         When complete, the bridge will span for 17½ metres as part of the A1, with four new slip roads constructed off of and under the A1

·         A crew of six specialist operatives will be on site to safely place the beams into place with a 250-tonne crane

·         The bridge beams are constructed using pre-cast concrete

·         A total of 120,000 work hours have been spent on the constructing the new A1 connection, including the manufacture of the bridge beams

Cllr Davies added: “Getting these beams lifted into place and constructing the bridge deck is just one of the many important jobs happening on-site at the moment.

“We’re also hard at work getting the new connecting roundabouts built, as well as the north and sound-bound on and off slip roads.

“The scheme as a whole is progressing really well, and we’re looking forward to having the entire relief road opened during 2023.”

Please note that two additional night-time northbound A1 road closures will be in place on the evenings of Thursday 9 and Friday 10 July.

The Grantham Southern Relief Road project is being led by Lincolnshire County Council and supported by South Kesteven District Council, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Highways England, Department for Transport, Network Rail, Homes England and local businesses.

Councillors want to reject “substantially changed” Barrowby homes plan

CLICK ON PICTURE ABOVE FOR DETAILS

The popular Big Clean initiative is up and running around South Kesteven and aiming to complete an updated summer schedule as the nation cautiously moves into the recovery phase of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Big Clean teams are back out on the road as South Kesteven District Council works to set a higher standard for cleanliness, with an initial focus on our villages and rural areas.

During this third year of the Big Clean, two permanent roving teams are following a schedule to stay a step ahead for clean and tidy streets.

Cabinet Member for Commercial and Operations, Cllr Dr Peter Moseley, said: “This work is a priority for SKDC with the aim of making the district’s 365 square miles a more attractive environment for those who live here, and to businesses that will provide future jobs and growth.

“The Big Clean forms part of our commitment to a Higher Street Standard which consistently exceeds the national average, making us one of the best performers in the country for keeping the area clean and litter-free.”

SKDC teams are busy tackling litter, repairing bins, pulling up weeds and power-washing pavements. They also clean graffiti, pick litter and cut back trees in the way of signs and are currently moving through Morton, Dunsby, Dowsby and Rippingale.

Cllr Dr Moseley added: “I am proud of the work that our own teams and community volunteers do in keeping the district looking so great.

“You can build on local community spirit and help out in your area too, as many volunteers around the district already do. SKDC can assist your group with a loan of rubbish bags, hi-vis jackets or litter-picking sticks to build on the council’s work; they can be borrowed from the Street Scene department, which is also happy to pick up filled bags afterwards.” 

Information on the Big Clean and its schedule can be found at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/bigclean.

The first Lincolnshire cancer patients who had their surgery postponed due to the outbreak of coronavirus have had their operations at Grantham and District Hospital. By creating a largely ‘COVID-free’ site at Grantham hospital, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is now able to carry out thousands more chemotherapy sessions, cancer surgeries and other elective surgeries for patients from across Lincolnshire. Over the last week theatres at Grantham hospital have been used by teams of surgeons from across the Trust operating on 50 cancer and medically urgent patients in seven days. The surgery was only possible following temporary changes to the urgent care offer at the hospital from an A&E, open 8am-6.30pm, to a 24/7 walk-in Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), and transferring unplanned admissions to other hospitals. To ensure the safety of cancer and surgical patients, many of whom are immunocompromised, all planned patients coming onto the COVID-free site are being tested for COVID-19 and only admitted following a negative result.  Medical Director at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Neill Hepburn, said: “We continue to manage a global pandemic situation, but are working to find ways to offer a wider range of services to our patients where we can safely do so. “It has taken a huge effort by colleagues from across the county to transform how we provide these services to our patients from across Lincolnshire. I am pleased that we are now providing surgery to our patients with cancer or those whose surgery is urgent in nature.” These temporary changes are part of the Trust’s response to the level 4 national emergency, and accordingly will be reviewed when the current phase of the response nationally comes to an end. Based on current available information, this will run to the end of March 2021 but could be subject to change. It will be reviewed quarterly throughout.

Supermarket chain Aldi’s plan to move from its South Parade home to much larger premises to the west of the town takes a step forward this month.

They are planning to develop the field on the on corner of Harlaxton Road and Trent Road, once occupied by Grantham Road Services.

Before submitting the plans to SKDC, the companyasked residents what they thought of the idea. A total of 95 per cent came out with a resounding ‘yes’.

An Aldi spokesman said: “Aldi are investing significantly across the UK, modernising its existing estate and has identified this vacant land as an opportunity to upgrade its current offer in Grantham.

“The current Aldi at South Parade is very popular. However, there is no potential to expand the site and bring it in line with Aldi’s latest openings and it is therefore necessary to relocate.

“The proposed store will accommodate the full range of Aldi goods and enhance the customer experience through improved facilities, including customer toilets.

“Our current store is extremely popular but is no longer able to meet the needs of our customers. It is now dated and in need of modedrnisation and reconfiuration.”

The application for full planning permission comes before SKDC’s planning committee on Wednesday 22nd July. But while the meeting is open to the public, they will be unable to dues to the Corvid-19 lockdown.

Instead, the public will still be able to join and participate in the meeting via Skype for Business via http://www.southkestevene.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=9234 on the day

The South Parade store opened in 1995.

A leading housing provider has helped a Lincolnshire domestic abuse charity in its hour of need by purchasing two brand new freezers for its refuge.

Longhurst Group, which owns and manages more than 23,000 homes across the Midlands and East of England and has offices in Boston, Lincoln and Grimsby, bought the freezers for EDAN Lincs after their previous items broke down.

A £120 supermarket voucher was also donated to the charity to help cover the costs of replacing food that was lost as a result of the breakdown.

The Group stepped in after Lettings Advisor Diane Westwood – who herself has received support from EDAN Lincs to escape domestic abuse – spotted their appeal on social media.

She said: “EDAN is very close to me as they supported me and my children to flee domestic abuse in March last year. Without their support, I don’t think I would’ve recognised it for what it was, or even got out.

“I follow them on Facebook and they put an appeal out on Monday saying theirs had broken down and could any companies gift them replacements.

“I knew about our Housing Team Donation Fund and sent a screenshot of the post to Jennifer Coatsworth, our Housing Services Manager, to see if it was possible for us to buy the items.

“I was absolutely delighted when Jen called to say that we could purchase both freezers. I spoke to the manager at the refuge, who actually started to cry because she was so grateful for the offer.

“Jen asked me to look on the Currys website and send her some links. She also told me we could give a £120 supermarket voucher for them to restock any lost food.

“Jen is really the one who deserves credit for this, as she made it all possible.”

Diane said she was passionate about supporting organisations who help victims of domestic abuse.

She added: “I know how much this means to EDAN. Domestic abuse is constantly in the news and I know they’re overrun with enquiries and supporting victims of domestic abuse through their outreach services and refuge.

“Their funding is low and they cannot reach everyone, so for Longhurst Group, which also does a lot of work to support victims of domestic abuse, to do something like this shows that we do care.

“There is still so much stigma attached to domestic abuse and society has always played it down by saying that it is personal problems.

“Only by it being on the news will it become something that we will all work against.”

A spokesperson for EDAN Lincs said they were very grateful for the ongoing support of Longhurst Group, having received other items from the Group in the past.

They said: “We were delighted to accept the very generous donation of two freezers for our refuge along with the donation of £120 supermarket vouchers to replace the wasted items when our freezers broke down recently.

“This, coupled with the donations already made by the Group this year including two preloved laptops, an Amazon Fire tablet, two vacuum cleaners and cash donation of £1,500 is such a huge help to our charity.

“Their contribution will make a huge difference to many people’s lives and will help us to support them to live a life free from abuse.”

From 13 July, libraries in 14 Lincolnshire towns will reopen.

Libraries in Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln Central, Long Sutton, Louth, Mablethorpe, Market Rasen, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding, Stamford and Woodhall Spa will be open for communities to use.

The sites will open in line with government guidance, and will have a number of safety measures in place, including entry on a one-in-one-out system, more frequent cleaning, stock quarantining and hand sanitising stations.

A number of sites will have different opening hours and will have new ways of working – including a new Library Takeaway – where residents can call or email with their interests or reserve specific items themselves via the online library catalogue. Staff will select items for customers and then call them to arrange a convenient day and time for collection.

Libraries will also offer limited access to a PC for those without access at home, although these will need to be pre-booked via library staff in advance.

All existing loans have been extended to 1st September, so residents do not need to worry about incurring any charges if they are unable to visit a reopened library due to shielding or location. All returned items will be quarantined for 72 hours before making them available for others to borrow.

Cllr Nick Worth, executive member for culture and heritage at Lincolnshire County Council, explains:

“Working in partnership with GLL, our library service provider, we’ve been working hard to get our core libraries ready for reopening next week. Safety is of paramount importance, so we’re doing all we can to make sure they are COVID-19 compliant, so people can get back to using the service. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming our readers and users back.

“That said, we know that some residents will chose to continue to access our services in a different way, so our digital library is always open and your Lincolnshire Library Card gets you access to thousands of ebooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, online newspapers, learning resources and emusic. Simply, visit https://lincolnshire.spydus.co.uk/ for more details.”

Nicola Rogers, Better partnership manager for Lincolnshire Libraries added:

“Library staff are working hard behind the scenes readying our main libraries for the welcome return of customers from 13 July.

“Things will look and feel a little different of course, as we prioritise the safety of customers and staff.”

“We’d encourage customers to visit our website www.better.org.uk/Lincolnshire-libraries where we’ve published full details of our reopening services as well as libraries new temporary opening hours. We are also posting regular updates on our @Lincslibraries Facebook and Twitter pages.”

“We thank customers for bearing with us at this time and look forward to serving them once again when we reopen.”

Hubs, as mostly run by the community, will reopen later in the Summer.

Hospital staff in Lincolnshire will be among the first to take part in a ground-breaking national research project looking at immunity and other unanswered questions around COVID-19.   Public Health England has launched the SIREN trial which will track NHS staff from across the country, with blood and throat swabs taken regularly over 18-months.   This will help researchers to better understand the true prevalence of the virus and will also improve scientific knowledge about the body’s response to COVID-19.  It hopes to do this by identifying anyone who has the virus, whether they develop antibodies, how long any antibodies may last for and if they contract COVID-19 again.   There is currently no firm evidence to suggest that having the antibodies means the carrier is immune to COVID-19 or that they can no longer transmit the virus to others.  SIREN will try to answer some of these questions.   United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) patients have already been enrolling onto a range of COVID-19 research studies, now the Research and Innovation Department are offering 250 Trust staff the chance to take part in this ground-breaking national COVID-19 research. Associate Chief Nurse, Alun Roebuck, is the Trust’s Principal Investigator for the trial. He said: “This is an opportunity for frontline colleagues to be part of research that could answer the billion dollar questions about COVID-19 that we simply do not know at the moment. It will help us to understand what happens next in the life of the virus and our own immunity to it.” Alun added: “Our involvement in SIREN really is a whole Trust effort. Our Research and Innovation Department are recruiting and assessing colleagues for the trial; the samples will be taken by members of our Occupational Health Department; tested by partners at Pathlinks and it will be staff taking part from across the Trust. “This really is ground-breaking research that has the potential to change how we respond to COVID-19 globally. I believe this is the biggest and most important research project for our generation.”

The Angel and Royal hotel in Grantham, one of the oldest in the UK,  has been sold by owners Ashdake Hotels for  £1.75m.

It has been sold to Dean Harrison, an experienced hotelier who will immediately undertake a “comprehensive” refurbishment programme.

The business was marketed off a net turnover in excess of £800,000 per annum and the sale of the freehold asset and business was at an undisclosed figure off an initial guide price of £1.75m.

Along with the 31 letting bedrooms, which reportedly attracts “strong” corporate and leisure trade, the property offers bar, dining, meeting and function facilities.

The hotel also has an unused cottage, stables, offices and store which can provide potential for extra facilities.

The transaction was brokered by Julian Troup, head of UK hotels agency at Colliers International, who said: “Since UK hotel trading shut down there had been modest interest in the hotels and hospitality businesses that we have on the market.

“I am pleased however to confirm that we have recently seen an improvement in the volume of enquiries, and more particularly the number of formal viewings taking place in the last couple of weeks.”

Built in the twelth century, and originally called the Angel, it was owned by the Knights Templars.

The ‘Royal’ was added in the 1860s, following the visit of the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.

Among recent owners, a group of local businessmen led by accountant John Hindmarch took it over from Trust House Forte in the 1990s, and carried out a major restoration of the property.

⚠️ We're aware of this substantial fly-tip near Fulbeck and are investigating for evidence before we clear it away….

Posted by South Kesteven District Council on Tuesday, 7 July 2020

SKDC’s Guildhall and Stamford Arts Centres are excited to announce a short series of online workshops with West End professionals, bringing you closer to two of the most recent and most popular musicals out there.

They will be held via Zoom, so you don’t even need to leave your house to get training from the best.

The first will be a dance workshop covering the popular new musical SIX and will be led by Shekinah McFarlane on Wednesday 15 July at 6pm. Shekinah played Anna of Cleves in the 2019-2020 tour of SIX and was alternate for the same role as well as Catherine of Aragon in the West End production. Grab your crown, be a Queen, and learn part of a sassy routine!

Shekinah’s theatre credits also include: American Idiot (UK Tour), Purple Rain: Celebration of Prince (UK & Holland) Tommy (UK tour) Hair & Hair50 (Hope Mill Theatre – Vaults Theatre), Parade (Hope Mill Theatre), The Lion King (Disney Theatrical, UK and International Tour); Godspell in Concert (Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue); Seussical the Musical (Arts Theatre) and Rent (Tabard Theatre).

The second workshop lined up is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit musical Hamilton. On Wednesday 22 July at 6pm, Christopher Tendai will take you back to the 1800s to learn a section of movement in the style of the number “My Shot”. Christopher Tendai was a swing in the West End’s Hamilton, and other credits include: Dancer for Strictly Come Dancing (BBC1); Dancer for Brit Awards; Cover Benny in In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre); Swing in Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Duck in In The Willows (Yvonne Arnaud Theatre).

The workshops are suitable for all levels of dancers and will last for 1 hour.

Tickets can only be booked online, so visit www.guildhallartscentre.com or www.stamfordartscentre.com to book your place.

£6 per participant for each workshop (including £1 online transaction fee)

Registered between 29  June – 3 July 2020

You can click on the following link to view the forms and plans of any planning application.

http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planningsearch

S20/0769 Grantham Change of use of paddock near Grantham House, 45 Castlegate, Grantham NG31 6SS from agricultural use to educational use. There is no building work planned.  Applicant: Mrs Penny Harris The Harrowby/National Academies Trust, The National Junior School Castlegate Grantham NG31 6SR Lincs

S20/0788 Denton Demolition of an existing conservatory and erection of single storey rear extensions. Applicant: Mr Graham Leverton Spring Cottage 73-74 Main Street Denton Grantham NG32 1JZ

S20/0902 Grantham  Change of Use of 71 Barrowby Road Grantham NG31 8AB from House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) with 7 bedrooms (suigeneris) to HMO with 8 bedrooms (sui generis);p Applicant: Mr J Gill C/o Richmond House Main Road Long Bennington NG23 5DJ

S20/0944 Colsterworth  Erection of garage/workshop; Applicant: Mr Neil Stearn 12 Stamford Road Colsterworth NG33 5JD

S20/0963 Little Bytham The erection of a detached dwelling; Applicant: Mr P Jones Hill View Station Road Little Bytham NG33 4RA

S20/0974 Great Gonerby Barn conversion to one residential dwelling and erection of one bungalow at 25 Pond Street Great Gonerby NG31 8LJ.; Applicant: Mr Christopher Thompson 16 Covill Close Great Gonerby Grantham NG31 8PP

S20/0989 Barkston Retention of agricultural building; Applicant: Ms C Watson Westfield Farm Station Road Barkston NG32 2NT

S20/0994 Allington  T2 Leyland Cypress – To Reduce as marked on the diagram to improve light for Neighbours; Applicant: Mr Martin Jackson Allington Hall Bottesford Road Allington NG32 2DH

S20/1001 Denton T1 – Silver Birch – Fell, T2- Group of Llylnd Trees – Topping by 20f – T3 – Lime Tree – Pruning  at  The Agents House Main Street Denton  NG32 1JW Applicant: Mr Oliver Tagg

S20/0996 Grantham Erection of 3(no.) 1.5 storey dwellings at 2 Willow Tree Drive Grantham NG31 9FW; Applicant: Mr R Johnson 2 Willow Tree Drive Grantham NG31 9FW

S20/1004 Grantham Proposal: Oak (T1 on site plan) – Fell The tree works are proposed to stop the influence of the tree(s) on the soil below building foundation level and provide long term stability. stimated costs of repair to the building are ?15,000.00 if the influence of the tree(s) remain and ?2,279.00 if the proposed tree works are allowed to proceed. Granting permission will limit these costs. In the event of a refusal we, or our clients, will see to secure compensation for the additional costs incurred through Section 202(e).

Should the tree/s remain the total cost of repairs will be the Superstructural repairs Alternative method of repairs = £17,279.0. It is the expert opinion of both the case engineer and arboriculturalist that on the balance of probabilities the supporting information demonstrates the influence of the tree(s).

Note: Further monitoring results may be submitted if these become available during the course of this application.  At 17 Blairgowie Close Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 9FJ Applicant: Subsidence Management Services Gateway House 4 Penman Way Grove Park Leicester LE19 1SY

S20/1006 Westborough T2 Sycamore & T3 Oak to Remove; Applicant: Ann Lund The Old Rectory Town Street Westborough NG23 5HJ

S20/1010 Grantham Single Storey rear extension, and enlargement to dormer to front elevation. Applicant: Mr K Morgan 28, Barrowby Road Grantham NG31 6PD

S20/1013 Pickworth : Use as garden land ancillary to and within the curtilage of the residential dwelling; Applicant: Mr & Mrs Roy KnightonBumblebee Cottage, Mill Lane Pickworth NG34 0TE

S20/1021 Grantham Alterations comprising replacement GF cloakroom door and stairwell fire door, new  utiltiy and shower room layout and drainage, new first floor bathroom layout and division to form shower room. Garage outbuilding reroofing, new rainwater goods and joinery, Grantham House, 46 Castlegate Grantham NG31 6SN; Applicant: Ms R Mitchell The National Trust Unit 7 Swallow Court Devonshire Gate Tiverton EX16 7EJ

S20/1023 Colsterworth Demolition of existing building and erection of a new detached building; Applicant: Mr B Halsey 27 Bridge End Colsterworth NG33 5NZ