MaRch/apRil 2011
The NeWSPAPeR foR ReSideNTS of LiNcoLNShiRe
Back to the future
Spring is here at last!
council leader welcomes you to
the new county News
Win £250 in our Lincolnshire
garden centre giveaway
For Full story see page 8››
For Full story see page 3››
council tax
is frozen!
LOVE FOOD, HATE WASTE! Lincolnshire
County Council sustainability officer
Doug Robinson cooks up leftovers
as part of his drive to cut both your
household bills and your carbon
footprint. See page 9 for his top tips.
Residents fed up with rising bills get a boost in
Lincolnshire county council’s 2011/12 budget
The council has confirmed that there
will be no increase in its share of the
council tax when bills start going out
across the county in March.
There is also vital cash for the fight
against crime and anti-social behaviour,
with £1.5m being given to Lincolnshire
Police Authority.
That will help pay the wages of the county’s 150 police community support officers for the next year, ensuring they stay on
the front line.
The safeguarding of children, fire and
rescue, winter road gritting and emergency planning also fared well as the council
made public safety its top priority.
However, some other services will be cut
or even stopped altogether as the impact
of the national deficit is felt locally.
Lincolnshire County Council leader Cllr
Martin Hill OBE described the budget, approved by the authority on 11 February, as
“the most difficult for many years”.
He explained: “The Government is determined to restore the national finances,
which means it has much less money to
give to councils in grants.
“That inevitably has a huge impact on
what we can spend on local services, and
we’ve had to make some painful decisions.”
Over the next four years, starting with the
new financial year on 1 April, Lincolnshire
County Council will have to make savings
of £125m.
Besides a reduction in its grants, that is
due to an increase in the council’s costs,
particularly with more older people needing social care.
Energy prices are also rising, and the
council is taking on new responsibilities
for flood management and concessionary
bus fares.
Despite the difficulties, Cllr Hill said the
council remained “absolutely committed
to protecting essential services”.
In adult social care, however, new charges are being introduced to reflect people’s
ability to pay. Post-16 transport charges
will also go up.
Meanwhile, non-essential services such
as trading standards, rights of way and
teenage services will be scaled back.
Assessing the overall impact of the
budget, Cllr Hill said: “I firmly believe we
have set the right financial course for Lincolnshire for the next 12 months and beyond.”
The freeze in Lincolnshire County Council’s share of the council tax has been
made possible by a grant from the Government to authorities keeping rises to
2.5% or below.
It will benefit every council taxpayer in
the county, although the exact amount on
your bill will depend on the rates set by
Lincolnshire Police Authority and your district council.
See page 2 for details of the new
thinking behind the budget, with the
executive councillor for finance, cllr
Kelly Smith.
Read ouR guest columnist uRsula lidbetteR
– plus all youR ReadeRs’ letteRs
›› p6-7
County News 02
News
FACE TO FACE
Sometimes it just isn’t possible to
carry on doing things in the same
old way. It’s time for new thinking.
That new thinking was certainly needed
at Lincolnshire County Council over the
winter as proposals were being drawn
up for next year’s budget.
Of course, the council had known for
some time that there would be a big cut
in government grants in the years ahead.
To plan for that, it had been introducing
efficiency savings across the organisation, including a one-third reduction in
the number of senior managers.
In December, the Government gave
more details of Lincolnshire County
Council’s grant cut. Combined with unavoidable increases in our costs, it meant
that we would have to make savings of
£125m over the next four years – a large
reduction in our spending power.
None of this was unexpected, and it did
not shake our determination to help rebuild the national finances. However, it
gave us a major challenge to balance the
books, as I learned when I was appointed executive member for finance before
Christmas.
As the council set the budget for the
Lincolnshire County Council’s executive member for finance, Cllr Kelly Smith, explains the tough choices behind
the 2011/12 budget
new financial year, it could have voted
for a large increase in council tax. However, that would have been nowhere
near enough to plug the gap. It would
also have placed an unfair burden on
residents.
For those reasons, the council decided
on a council tax freeze in 2011/12, accompanied by targeted cuts to some
services and jobs.
The easy choice
isn’t always the
right one. You also need
new thinking.
In deciding where cuts should be made,
it might have been the easy option to apply an across-the-board reduction – for
example, a 25% cut to every service.
But as a local businessman myself, I
know the easy choice isn’t always the
right one. You also need new thinking.
We therefore went back to basics and
looked at each service afresh. Was it
essential or just desirable? Could it be
reduced, delivered in a different way, or
even stopped?
County News
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Cllr Kelly Smith
Executive councillor for finance,
Lincolnshire County Council
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EDITORIAL
Lincolnshire County Council
Phone
01522 782060
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countynews@lincolnshire.
gov.uk
By letter
County News,
Lincolnshire County Council,
County Offices, Newland,
Lincoln LN1 1YL
Online
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/
countynews
Managing editor
Debbie Cook, head of
democratic services and
communications
Following widespread consultation,
we have given priority to public safety –
safeguarding children, fire and rescue,
road gritting and maintenance, and police community support officers. We will
also continue to invest in economic regeneration and tourism.
Other measures – for example, increased charges for post-16 transport
and adult social care – will inevitably
prove less popular, although we firmly
believe they are necessary.
Given the difficult state of the nation’s
finances, the discussion about how best
to provide local services will continue for
some years to come.
At Lincolnshire County Council, we will
ensure that debate is never lacking in
one essential thing – the courage to apply new thinking.
County News 03
News
Welcome to County News
Since you last received the Lincolnshire County Council newspaper
in December, there have been a number of changes – not least the paper’s
name!
After two years of “Inside Lincolnshire”,
the majority of our readers were still talking about and writing to “County News”,
the previous name.
As we regard this as your paper, we have
therefore bowed to popular demand and
reverted to County News.
The change is entirely cost-free and has
just involved our in-house designers producing a new masthead for the front page,
which I hope you find attractive.
We have also gone back to the tabloid
size used by most newspapers. It will give
us more space for news and, because it is
a standard format, save money on production costs.
Another major change – one I announced
last autumn – is to the frequency of the
paper.
In line with government guidance, we
are moving from our current bimonthly arrangement to a quarterly, beginning with
a combined July-August-September paper
published at the end of June.
The new frequency will help us to substantially reduce our costs, while still be-
Flood plans tested
Lincolnshire has tragic experience of
major coastal flooding in 1953 – but
how would we cope if it ever happened
again?
To find out, various scenarios are
being staged in the county in March by
emergency planners.
Events include an “evacuation” of
a group of Sutton-on-Sea residents,
including school pupils, before an
imagined storm hits the coastline.
This will spur
people on to think
about what they can do
The participants all volunteered in
advance to take part in the simulation on
Wednesday 9 March.
Another scenario in Lincolnshire involves
a flood rescue on Thursday 10 March at
Tattershall Lakes Country Park.
The event will feature a flooded village
with rooftops, a caravan and a semisubmerged car all visible in the lake.
An RAF helicopter is expected to take
part along with firefighters, the RNLI and
the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
East Midlands Ambulance Service
and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue will
demonstrate decontamination and highvolume pumping equipment. Visitors can
also view a rescue exhibition.
A third exercise looks at the question of
animal welfare in a major flood, including
stranded animals and contamination from
dead livestock.
David Powell, Lincolnshire County
Council’s head of emergency planning,
said the coastal flooding simulation – part
of the national Exercise Watermark – had
three main aims.
“Firstly, we will be able to test plans
to respond should an incident like this
happen for real. Secondly, it will help
raise awareness that there is a risk from
flooding.
“Lastly, it will spur people on to think
about what they can do to protect their
homes and businesses, prepare their
own flood plans and seek advice about
protecting themselves.”
Residents can sign up to the
Environment Agency’s Floodline
Warnings Direct service on 0845 988
1188. To draw up a flood plan, visit www.
lincolnshireprepared.co.uk.
ing able to communicate with you regularly
about local services.
Of course, good communication isn’t a
one-way street, and we’re very keen to expand our letters section to carry more of
your views, with replies from us whenever
they might be useful.
With that in mind, please feel free to write
or email our editorial team about any matters of interest or concern – you’ll find the
contact details on page 2 (opposite).
Other new features include regular updates on the council’s popular website
and on recycling/environmental issues.
To help promote the best of Lincolnshire
produce, we will also be serving up a fabulous local recipe in each edition.
So, welcome to County News – I hope
you like the changes we’ve made. If you
do, please let us know. If not, we also want
to hear from you as your feedback helps us
develop the paper in the ways you want.
Thank you.
Cllr Martin Hill OBE
Leader
Lincolnshire County Council
Congratulations
on MBEs
HONOURED: Neil Woodmansey at work in
Haiti with rescue dog Holly.
Two prominent figures at Lincolnshire
County Council were appointed MBEs in
the New Year Honours.
Former chairman Cllr Denis Hoyes, who
represents Woodhall Spa and Wragby,
was recognised for services to the community in Lincolnshire. He has served as a
councillor since 1977.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s Neil
Woodmansey, from Sleaford, was made
an MBE for services to UK International
Search and Rescue, including his work
in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake with dog Holly.
Meanwhile, Mike Thomas, who led the
entire UK search and rescue response in
Haiti, has retired as Lincolnshire’s chief
fire officer after 37 years’ service. He has
been replaced by former assistant Dave
Ramscar.
WE’RE READY! Youngsters at Sutton-on-Sea
Primary School prepare for their simulated
“evacuation” ahead of a coastal storm.
County News 04
News
THE SMOkEFrEE
LInCS ALLIAnCE
It has been a somewhat uncertain time for the Alliance team
this past year as the change in government has also brought
about change in Tobacco Control. Actions from the Health
Act 2009 have been affected; a ban on the sale of tobacco
from vending machines will still go ahead on 1st October
2011 however the ban on point of sale displays is still to
be determined. There is still time to influence this issue so
we would urge you to write to your MP in support of this
important measure. We are eagerly awaiting the publication
of the Coalition Government’s Tobacco Control Plan which
will give us the direction we need to ensure Lincolnshire
remains at the forefront of England’s tobacco control activity.
nO SMOkInG DAy
WEDnESDAy 9TH MArCH 2011
Once again the Alliance is preparing to promote No Smoking
Day; the theme for this year is ‘Time to Quit?’ which aims to
encourage smokers to start planning for their quit attempt.
Planning ahead and setting a quit date in advance gives smokers
the time to access Phoenix, Lincolnshire’s Stop Smoking Service
and gather the information and support that could make their
attempt a success. The Alliance and Phoenix teams will be on
the road again this year at venues across Lincolnshire for one
week leading up to No Smoking Day to give smokers advice and
support. To see a list of venues visit www.smokefreelincs.co.uk . If you feel ready to quit,
Phoenix is ready to help. They offer confidential one-to-one support and advice to help you
quit, and with their help you are four times more likely to be successful. To find out more
call free-phone 0800 840 1533 or text No Smoking Day to 07781 481 717.
E-CIGArETTES
Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes
as they are known are a relatively new
product on the market but there is a
great deal of uncertainty about what they
are and their safety. Quite simply they
are designed to look like a conventional
cigarette but they do not contain
tobacco and do not burn; instead they
contain a nicotine cartridge which is
heated by a battery and turned into
vapour when the user inhales on the
device. E-cigarettes are thought to be
relatively safe compared to conventional
cigarettes as it is tobacco that contains
the harmful substances. However this
does not mean
that they are a safe
product to use. They
are an unregulated
product which means
there are no quality
control measures and in some cases
researchers have identified serious flaws
such as leaking cartridges. As yet there
is insufficient evidence about the long
term effects of use and users should
be reminded that these products are
not licensed NRT (nicotine replacement
therapy) products and have not been
proven to aid quitting smoking.
To find out more about Phoenix and the
support it offers, got to www.phoenixquit.
nhs.uk, freephone 0800 840 1533 or text
Quit to 07781 481717.
PrOjECT uPDATES
It has been a busy year
for the Alliance team.
The Smoke Free Homes
project continues to
go from strength to
strength; 17,259 homes
in Lincolnshire have now signed up to
the project protecting 18,564 children.
The Smoke Free Homes promise will
now also cover cars as tobacco smoke
concentrations in cars can be up to 27
times higher than in a smokers home.
Local small businesses are being given
the opportunity to access a brand new
Workplace Toolkit. The free resource
provides all the relevant information and
advice around working within smokefree
legislation and how to access support for
employees who smoke.
We are continuing to develop our work
around smuggled and counterfeit tobacco
which aims to raise awareness of the
increased risks posed by the illicit trade. If
you have any information about the sale of
illicit tobacco please call Crimestoppers on
0800 555 111.
Most recently we have been involved
in the development of a new smoking
education DVD, ‘Choked Up’ which
follows the story of a family affected by
various aspects of smoking. The resource
will be distributed to secondary schools,
youth centres and youth organisations
across the county.
WIn A £20 HIGH STrEET vOuCHEr
To be in with a chance of
winning a £20 high street
voucher simply complete the
wordsearch below, one word
from the list DOES NOT appear
in the grid. Simply find the
word that’s missing and send it,
along with your name, address
and number to Julie Scott,
Smoke Free Lincs Alliance,
Beech House, Waterside South,
Witham Park, Lincoln, LN5 7JH
SMOKEFREE
PROTECT
FAMILY
PHOENIX
FUTURE
HOME
CAR
PETS
HEALTHY
S
X
T
Y
L
I
M A
F
M
P
E
T
S
C
Q
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M
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A
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K
T
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I
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W
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W S
I
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C
T
V
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O M
Q
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If you would like further information on any of our projects
e-mail smokefreelincs@lincolnshire.gov.uk or call 01522 550544.
www.smokefreelincs.co.uk
County News 05
News
Red Lion prepares to roar
A unique development
showcasing the best
of Lincolnshire’s food
industry opens in April
Spalding’s £6.5m Red Lion Quarter –
which has risen from the ashes of a
derelict brownfield site – is expected
to create more than 100 jobs over the
next few years.
Besides giving a boost to employment,
the multi-use complex is likely to attract
large numbers of visitors, both from within
Lincolnshire and further afield.
Key attractions at the Red Lion Quarter,
which opens to the public on 5 April, include:
■ A training restaurant for students, run
by Boston College and backed by
Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton,
a former student.
■ High-quality local produce on sale at
the speciality food court.
■ Dedicated office space for foodrelated small businesses – the first of
its kind in Lincolnshire.
■ Educational opportunities for all ages,
especially in literacy, numeracy and IT.
■ Three meeting rooms available for local
companies to hire.
The Red Lion Quarter has been given an
enthusiastic welcome by Cllr Eddy Poll,
the executive councillor for economic development at Lincolnshire County Council.
Cllr Poll, who represents Spalding East
and Moulton on the council, said: “The
opening of the Red Lion Quarter is a very
significant day for Spalding, the south of
COMING SOON: An artist’s
impression of Spalding’s new Red
Lion Quarter, which opens for
business in April.
the county and Lincolnshire as a whole.
“It will provide a superb showcase, under
one roof, of the very best of Lincolnshire’s
food heritage – something we have needed for a long time.”
Cllr Poll said the development, which will
be run by an independent body known as
a community interest company, would offer something for everyone.
“Local people, businesses, students and
visitors will all benefit from the facilities
available at the Red Lion Quarter, which
will give a real boost to the local economy,”
he predicted.
The development has taken shape on the
site of former buildings in Red Lion Street,
which had been derelict for more than 10
years.
South Holland District Council bought
the land after identifying it as an ideal town
centre location, close to the water taxi and
the market place.
Besides the district and county councils
and Boston College, the funding partnership behind the project includes the East
Midlands Development Agency and Lincolnshire Enterprise.
For more information about any aspect
of the Red Lion Quarter, phone Boston
College’s marketing team on 01205
313233, email marketing@boston.ac.uk
or visit www.redlionquarter.co.uk
53rd Parade celebrates Britishness!
Spring in Lincolnshire means just
one thing – the Spalding Flower
Parade!
Designers are now hard at work on
spectacular tulip-decorated floats in
readiness for the event on Saturday 30
April.
The theme for this year’s Parade – the
53rd – is “British Icons”, inspiring floats
such as “An English Country Garden”
and “A Day at the Seaside”.
Parade manager Kathleen Codd
explained: “Spalding and South Holland
are hugely significant in the country’s
agriculture, and we want to celebrate
heritage and Britishness.”
Kathleen advised visitors to “be
prepared for a few surprises” once
the parade starts its journey from the
Springfield Events Centre at 2pm.
She explained: “As well as the many
colourful marching bands, live music
performers, street entertainers and local
community entries, we will also have
celebrity guests and Lincolnshire’s firstever pop-up restaurant.
“We hope you will join in the fun and
celebrations and help us to make this a
year you’ll never forget.”
For more information about the Spalding
Flower Parade, including volunteering and
sponsorship opportunities:
■ Visit www.spalding-flower-parade.org.uk
■ Follow the regular updates on Twitter
(twitter.com/flowerparade) and Facebook
(spaldingflowerparade2011)
■ Email info@spalding-flower-parade.org.uk
■ Phone 01673 828764
WHAT A SIGHT! A Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
float delights visitors at a recent Spalding
Flower Parade.
County News 06
Business
A voice for Lincolnshire
business
Ursula Lidbetter, the chief executive of
Lincolnshire Co-operative, has taken on a
second important role as chairman of the Greater
Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Here, Ursula explains what the LEP aims to
achieve for the county
At Lincolnshire Co-operative,
we’ve got more than 200 outlets in the county and beyond.
We pride ourselves on being part of the
local community, whether that’s by providing services like foodstores, pharmacies
and post offices, or by supporting local
charities and groups.
Through our colleagues who live and
work in those communities, we’ve got
a pretty good idea of what’s going on
around the county.
Such information is going to come in
handy in my new role as chairman of the
Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise
Partnership (LEP) because that’s all about
people coming together and using local
knowledge to help shape the future of the
county.
The LEP is a way for people who live and
work in Lincolnshire to influence the Government on the best way to invest public
funding to meet the needs of our economy.
The partnership board consists of representatives from local businesses and the
public sector who share their knowledge
of our strengths in the county, where we
need to develop, how that can be done,
and which organisations can lead the
changes.
We will initially focus on three main areas:
■ Providing the support and
infrastructure that businesses in rural
communities need, such as broadband
and access to training.
■ Using our resources in the best way
we can, including areas where we’re
strong like tourism, agriculture and
engineering.
■ Developing places which can be
economic “drivers” for the county such
as Greater Lincoln, Gainsborough and
Grantham.
The LEP doesn’t have its own funding.
We’re a focus point for bids to other funding sources, including the Government’s
£1.4bn Regional Growth Fund.
My fellow board members and I are currently awaiting the outcome of two bids
to the fund. The first is for the Teal Park
scheme, a fully serviced business park
in North Hykeham. The second is for the
National Centre for Agronomy and Crop
Science, which will create a technical resource for the county’s farming industry
and new jobs.
We hope we’ll have exciting news to
share with you on these and many other
projects over the coming months and
years.
What is the LEP?
The Government gave the green light
to Lincolnshire last autumn to set up an
LEP – one of the first in the country.
Initially, the LEP will be based on the
area covered by Lincolnshire County
Council but there is the possibility of
working closely with neighbouring areas.
It aims to expand on the work formerly
carried out by Lincolnshire Enterprise,
supporting businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve economic growth.
The LEP is based on a partnership between the private and public sectors,
giving Lincolnshire a strong voice when
it comes to influencing the Government
on investment.
Who serves on the LEP?
The LEP has a board of 12 business
and civic leaders from across Lincolnshire, led by Ursula Lidbetter. She
is supported by David Dexter (Federation of Small Business) as her deputy.
The other members are: Herman Kok
(Employment & Skills Board); Chris
Baron (Butlins); Neil Corner (Siemens);
Mark Tinsley (Lincolnshire Forum for
Agriculture and Horticulture); Cllr Eddy
Poll and Richard Wills (Lincolnshire
County Council); Mary Stewart (University of Lincoln); Andy Baxendale
(Environment Agency); Tony Hill (NHS
director of public health and partnerships); and Cllr Doreen Stephenson
(East Lindsey District Council).
From buyer to boardroom –
Ursula’s route to the top
Ursula Lidbetter is the chief executive
of Lincolnshire Co-operative, a local society with 190,000 members who own
the business.
Community foodstores are at the core
of the Society’s services, which also
include pharmacy, travel, funerals and
neighbourhood post offices.
Born and bred in Lincoln, Ursula went
to the University of Hull and then took a
graduate course at the Co-op College.
She joined Lincolnshire Co-operative
in 1985 as a buyer and department
manager.
Over the years, Ursula has held various roles with the Society and became
chief executive in 2004.
Ursula was appointed chairman of the
Greater Lincolnshire LEP in December
2010.
To find out more about the LEP:
Visit: www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk
Write to: Enterprise@Lincoln,
University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool,
Lincoln, LN6 7TS
Phone: 01522 837245.
NEW ROLE: Ursula Lidbetter,
the chairman of the Greater
Lincolnshire Local Enterprise
Partnership.
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County News 07
Letters
Letters
WARTIME WINTER: Heavy snowfall in Lincolnshire is
nothing new, as illustrated by this image from 1944
showing a snow-bound Harrowby Road in Grantham.
(From the Illustrations Index, reference number LC6719.)
Please send your letters to
County News, Lincolnshire
County Council, County
Offices, Newland, Lincoln
LN1 1YL. You can also email
countynews@lincolnshire.
gov.uk. Please note that
anonymous items will not be
considered for publication.
Are you our Lancaster VIP?
Supporting
our troops
More letters
please
I am a volunteer for a charity called
Troop Aid.
We have had a shop in Alford
since last summer. Every penny
raised goes to injured troops in the
form of a “grab bag” in case they
are injured in a war zone.
The bag contains all the basic
essentials they will need when
they are brought back to the UK –
underwear, washing and shaving
kits etc. There is also a bag for
female soldiers.
Local people have already given us
a great deal of support but I’m keen
to raise awareness among more
Lincolnshire people.
For more information, visit
www.troopaid.info or call at the
shop. You can also phone me on
01507 490276.
Derek Birbeck, Troop Aid, 4B West
Street, Alford
Why does your publication have
only one page for letters? Most
newspapers would have between
five and a dozen readers’ letters
over a couple of pages.
Richard Appleyard, Saxilby
Editor David Harding replies:
Other readers have also asked us
to publish more letters and this is
something we are keen to do.
To get your contributions flowing,
I’ve asked our executive councillor
for waste services, Cllr Lewis
Strange, to take the “hot seat” in the
May/June edition and answer your
queries on waste and recycling.
Whether it’s waste and recycling
you want to let off steam about, or
something else altogether, please
email or write to County News,
using the contact details at the top
of this page.
Cars in the community
The Sleaford and District Voluntary Car Scheme is a voluntary car service
providing the elderly, disabled etc with a lift to the doctor, hospital, dentist, post
office or other location at a reduced rate. For more information, please call 01529
455110.
Tony Farrow, Chair, Sleaford and District Voluntary Car Scheme
Many congratulations to the
winner of our hugely popular
Lancaster VIP Experience
competition – Lindsay Jackson
from Horsington, near Woodhall
Spa.
Hers was the first name drawn
out of the hat with the correct
answer to our Dambusters
question. As many of you knew,
the weapon was the “bouncing
bomb”.
Lindsay can now look forward to a thrilling Lancaster VIP Experience at the
Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, including a taxy ride in “Just Jane”.
Incidentally, the spelling of “taxy” in the feature was queried by a number of
readers, who felt it should be the normal “taxi”.
We asked the Heritage Centre’s Louise Bush, who said “taxy” was the
appropriate spelling for an aircraft on the move.
Louise told us: “We have some Second World War documents with it spelt as
‘taxy’, and the RAF seem to spell it that way as well.
“However, we do frequently have members of the public asking if we have spelt
it incorrectly. The debate continues!”
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County News 08
Competition/News
Celebrate spring
with our £250
garden giveaway!
Spring is here at last – and a Lincolnshire
garden centre is helping five lucky readers make
the most of it!
Pennells was first established in Lincoln in 1780 and is still flourishing at
two county branches in the hands of
the same family!
Now, to mark the arrival of spring, County
News has teamed up with Pennells to give
away £250 worth of vouchers in a free
prize draw.
That’s £50 each to five lucky winners to
spend on quality items for their gardens in
time for spring.
Alternatively, take your pick from the
many other products on sale at the Pennells branches at Newark Road in South
Hykeham, near Lincoln, and Humberston
Road, Cleethorpes.
Owner Richard Pennell, who shares his
name with the ancestor who founded the
business seven generations ago, said
everyone was desperate to get out in their
gardens again.
“We all love spending time outside as the
days get warmer and longer, especially after such a hard winter,” said Richard.
“To help County News readers do just
that, I’m giving away five sets of £50
vouchers – that’s £250 in all – to spend
on whatever you like at our stores.”
Whether you’re after bedding plants or
buddleias, books or boots, or something
else altogether, you’ll find plenty to choose
from at Pennells.
And if you need a break after all that
shopping, relax with a drink and something to eat in the café – building up your
strength for a welcome spot of gardening
when you get home!
Delicious meals,
friendly delivery
FREE
Nationwide
Delivery
Meals
from only
£1.95
LP10
We deliver so much more than meals
• Fantastic range of dishes, easily cooked in the oven or microwave
• Convenient service from our friendly delivery drivers
• Quality and variety of delicious frozen meals
• Helping you maintain a balanced diet and independent lifestyle
For your FREE brochure, call us on
01427 666 130
To shop online visit
www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com
£250 GIVEAWAY! Garden centre
owner Richard Pennell displays plants
available at his Lincoln branch.
How to enter
To enter the Pennells Prize Draw, simply email countynews@lincolnshire.gov.uk,
putting Pennells in the subject box.
Alternatively, you can write to Pennells Prize Draw, County News, Lincolnshire
County Council, Newland, County Offices, Lincoln LN1 1YL.
However you enter, please give your name, address and daytime phone number.
The closing date for all entries is Friday 25 March. The winners will be the first
five names drawn out of the hat after that date.
Please note that entrants must be 18 or above and should not be an employee of
Lincolnshire County Council or a member of their family. There is no cash alternative
to the prize.
A year to remember
The Pennells branch in South Hykeham
won the 2010 Most Improved Garden
Centre Award at the Garden Centre Association Conference.
Last year also saw the completion of renovation at the Cleethorpes outlet, including the expansion of the restaurant and
gift sections.
You know it makes census!
Forms can often be annoying, even
irrelevant – but not this one!
The 2011 census questionnaire will
be dropping on the doormats of homes
across Lincolnshire in early March.
Undertaken every 10 years by the
Office of National Statistics, the census
provides a comprehensive “snapshot” of
the UK’s population.
That helps the Government, councils,
the NHS and other organisations
plan public services – vital things like
education, transport, housing, health and
social care.
The date for this year’s census is
Sunday 27 March – and completion of
the form is compulsory.
Forms will arrive by post and should only
take a few minutes to complete as most
of the questions have tick-box answers.
They can be returned using a prepaid envelope or – for the first time
– completed online through a secure
internet site.
However you provide it, all personal
information is protected by law and kept
confidential for 100 years.
There is plenty of support to help you
complete the form accurately and on
time, including a census website and
a telephone
helpline. Visit
www.census.
gov.uk or phone
0300 0201
101 after 4
March.
More
information is
also available
from Colin Davison, the census area
manager for Boston, North Kesteven,
South Holland and South Kesteven, on
0780 133 1342 or e105@census.gov.uk.
For East Lindsey, Lincoln and West
Lindsey, contact Andy Howlett on 0780
133 1339 or email e103@census.gov.uk.
Did you know?
The first UK census took place in 1801
after population expert Thomas Malthus
predicted that the growing number of
people in the country would soon outstrip
supplies of food and other resources,
leading Britain into famine, disease and
other disasters.
The census has happened every 10
years since then – apart from in 1941
when the country was in the grip of the
Second World War.
County News 09
Environment
Bills that don’t cost the earth!
Caring for the environment not only helps the
planet – it also saves you money!
That’s the message from Lincolnshire County
Council’s sustainability officer, Doug Robinson.
LOVE FOOD, HATE WASTE!
Lincolnshire County
Council sustainability
officer Doug Robinson
cooks up some leftovers.
In the first of a series of articles about the
environment, Doug suggests simple ways to cut
your household bills and your carbon footprint
People often say that something we do or buy “costs the
earth!”
With our modern lifestyles, that’s usually
true in two ways – we lose out financially
and the environment is damaged at the
same time.
For example, driving a car when we could
easily walk wastes expensive petrol and
pumps harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
Buying too much food, or any other unwanted item, and then throwing it away
also has a double effect – on our pockets
and on the environment.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things we
can all do in our daily lives to make a difference, however small.
As well as often saving money, these actions can contribute to a healthier, more
fulfilled life.
Here are my top tips for cutting both your
bills and your carbon footprint.
Something for nothing!
■ You can find items that somebody else
doesn’t want – totally free – at www.
dontdumpthat.com or www.freecycle.
org.
■ Another idea is to get together with
friends and “shwop” items you don’t
use any more. Find out more at www.
startuk.org.
■ Upcycling is the growing trend for
reusing unwanted items by turning
them into something better. Visit www.
upcycling.co.uk.
Saving you energy
■ While it’s important for all of us to keep
warm, it saves money and energy to
turn down thermostats slightly.
■ Turning off electrical equipment such
as TVs rather than leaving them on
standby also makes a difference.
■ The Home Energy Lincolnshire
Partnership (HELP) offers free home
insulation to the over-60s and people
on certain benefits. Discounts are
available for all other houses. Phone
the Energy Saving Trust on 0800
512012.
■ You could also invest in solar panels or
other forms of renewable electricity. As
well as reducing your bills, your initial
investment could give you an income if
you produce enough electricity to sell.
Visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
Travelling smarter
Could you leave your car at home and
use a cheaper – and less environmentally
damaging – alternative?
■ To find out about car share in
Lincolnshire, visit www.lincshare.co.uk
– for journeys in Lincoln, there’s also
www.lincolnbig.liftshare.com.
■ Using public transport is also likely to
be much cheaper than running a car,
while cycling and walking have health
benefits, too.
■ For holidays, it helps the environment
– and the local economy – if we have a
“staycation” close to home. For those
keen to go abroad, train journeys will
have less environmental impact than
flying.
Love food, hate waste
Households in the UK throw away an estimated 8.3 million tonnes of food every
year, costing families an average of £680.
The environmental benefits of stopping
that food waste would be equivalent to
taking one in four cars off the road.
Common-sense advice for cutting food
waste includes planning ahead and getting portion sizes right.
To find out more, plus tips on better food
storage and cooking with leftovers, visit
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.
Apply for a Lifeline online at
www.crosskeyshomes.co.uk for free delivery
Have your say
We welcome your views – please contact
County News (see page 7 for details).
For more information
■To play your part in making
Lincolnshire a low-carbon county, visit
www.epic-lincolnshire.org
■For advice on reducing your energy
use, go to www.energysavingtrust.
org.uk
■To find out more about recycling
in Lincolnshire, visit www.
recycleforlincolnshire.org.uk or phone
01522 782070
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County News 10
County News 11
Feature
Feature
ENJOYING INDEPENDENT LIVING
Older people say they
want a combination
of independence and
support. Here, County
News looks at three
initiatives to help you
achieve that balance,
plus the latest on
concessionary bus
passes
HOME NOT ALONE! Albert enjoys a game
of Scrabble with his friend Mary, watched
(centre) by support worker Teresa Stevens.
APPLY NOW: An artist’s impression of Boston’s
new Mayfields extra-care housing development.
A bridge to
independence
Older people in Boston are looking
forward to the opening in early summer of the town’s first extra-care
housing scheme.
A manager has been appointed and applications from people who want to live in
the Broadfield Lane facility are now being
accepted.
Officially known as Mayfields, the development will provide 40 apartments for
people aged 60 and over. They include 10
for purchase or shared ownership, as well
as some for rent.
A unique feature of the complex, set in
landscaped gardens, is that six apartments will be available for people with dementia care needs.
Other facilities include restaurants, a
launderette, a shop and a space for a hairdressing unit.
The complex, part-funded by the Depart-
Loss of independence is a real worry
for many older people – particularly
after an illness, bereavement or spell
in hospital.
Now a scheme in Lincolnshire can step
in at these crucial times to help people get
their lives back to normal.
The Bridge Project – funded by Lincolnshire County Council – works with
people aged 65 and over for a period of
up to six weeks.
It helps them to rebuild their skills and
self-confidence following a crisis in their
lives. It can also reduce social isolation.
Referrals can come
from anywhere
One person who has benefited from the
scheme is 94-year-old Albert, from the
Sleaford area. He had to have an operation last year after suffering a broken thigh
bone while moving a chair.
After leaving hospital, he went to live with
his son and daughter-in-law to recuperate,
but his goal was always to return to his
own home.
The Bridge Project team stepped in and
found that Albert could claim Attendance
Allowance, which he then used to pay for
cleaning and gardening services.
To help bolster Albert’s confidence, his
support worker, Teresa Stevens, found
him a Scrabble partner, Mary, who also invites him to her house for return matches.
Teresa said: “In addition to helping him
with sorting out his day-to-day tasks, I accompanied him around his local village to
build up his confidence when going to the
Boston housing boost
ment of Health, has been developed by
Boston Mayflower Housing Association
in partnership with Lincolnshire County
Council, Boston Borough Council, Supporting People and NHS Lincolnshire.
Lincolnshire already has six extra-care
housing schemes across the county.
Six apartments
will be available
for people who have
dementia care needs
An important element of extra-care housing is the reassurance that comes from
having care and support available 24
hours a day while keeping your own independence.
It can provide care and support for people with physical or mental frailties, who
might otherwise have to consider moving
to a care home.
Extra-care housing also enables couples,
friends and relatives to live together, and
gives owner-occupiers the opportunity to
retain a share of the capital value of the
property.
Cllr Graham Marsh, executive councillor for adult social care, said: “Extra-care
complexes such as Mayfields are a great
way for older people to remain independent while at the same time knowing that
professional care is available should they
need it.”
To find out more about Mayfields, please
phone Boston Mayflower on 01205
318606. Alternatively, you can email
lettings@bostonmayflower.org.uk.
To apply for a tenancy, contact Boston
Borough Council’s housing department
on 01205 314200.
Have bus pass, will travel!
shops and post office. Now he goes by
himself to do his own shopping and attend
church.”
Project manager Kevan Ray added:
“It has been amazing to see the change
in Albert since we first became involved
with him. I am really pleased that we have
helped him back to independence.”
Albert said: “Having an operation at my
time of life was quite a difficult thing for
me to deal with. Now, thanks to the Bridge
Project, I have a good social life, I can go
out and about in my village, and I don’t
have to worry about cleaning my house or
maintaining my garden.”
The project is run by pAsCaL, a co-
operative of five Lincolnshire Age UK/Age
Concerns, assisted by around 60 volunteers.
Once the six weeks provided through the
Bridge Project caseworkers has finished,
it is the role of the volunteers to befriend
the older person and keep in touch with
them.
This free support is available countywide
to people who do not receive an Adult Social Care service. Referrals can come from
anywhere – an individual can even phone
and ask for help themselves.
If you are interested in finding out more
about the service or becoming a volunteer,
please phone 01529 302843.
Smart disability help
Local people with a physical disability
are finding it easier to get the equipment
they need for everyday living, thanks to a
new website.
SmartAssist, launched by Lincolnshire County Council, enables people who do not receive
an Adult Social Care service to find out at the
click of a button what aids are available.
These can include everything from raised toilet seats and bath boards to tap turners and
grab rails.
The new web pages can be used by disabled
people themselves with or without the help of
a friend or relative.
They include questions which, when answered by the user, give detailed information
about exactly what equipment is needed.
Items can then be ordered privately through
mail order and local dealers. They may also be
available from Adult Social Care.
The confidential assessment includes a personal profile where you can enter details such
as your weight and height.
To find out more, log onto the website at
www.my-choice-lincolnshire.com/smartassist/
lincolnshire.
People eligible for concessionary
bus passes will continue to enjoy
free travel in Lincolnshire at any time
– despite changes to how the scheme
is run.
The Government has transferred local
responsibility for the English National
Concessionary Travel Scheme from your
district council to Lincolnshire County
Council from 1 April.
The county council will then deal with
new passes, renewals and the replacement of lost passes. Current passes issued by your district council will remain
valid until their expiry date.
The scheme has been handed over to the
county council with reduced government
funding. As a result, the application process has had to be streamlined.
From 1 April, it will be essentially a postal
applications system. There is now only one
place in the county to make an application
in person which is City Hall, Lincoln. In
addition, an online service is being developed, which it is hoped will be launched in
the autumn.
Despite the drop in funding, the county
council has pledged that Lincolnshire bus
pass holders will still be able to travel for
free at any time.
There had been fears that the council
would be unable to continue funding travel
before 9.30am – a cost it has to meet out
of its own budget rather than from government cash.
Other additional options that were provided locally, such as taxi tokens and rail
cards, will not continue after 31 March.
Cllr William Webb, executive councillor
for highways and transport, said: “We’re
determined to continue providing an excellent service for all bus pass holders.”
For more details about the scheme
write to: Concessionary Fares Office,
City Hall, Lincoln LN1 1DN.
Phone: 01522 782070
Website: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/
concessionaryfares.
County News 12
Charity
Living with
autism
Having an autistic child can pose unique
difficulties for parents and carers. Thankfully, a
Lincolnshire charity is there to help local families
who are wanting support
For many of us, the Hollywood comedy-drama Rain Man – especially the
Oscar-winning performance by Dustin Hoffman – offers our only insight
into autism.
The film certainly helped to raise awareness of the lifelong condition, which affects the way a person relates to the world
around them.
But Janet Corcoran, the secretary of the
Lincolnshire Autistic Society, feels it may
have reinforced a stereotype of autistic
people all having extraordinary powers of
memory.
“The film was very helpful in lots of ways,
but in reality every person with autism will
be different – and only a few will have the
incredible abilities we saw in the character
in the film.”
Janet, from Donington, near Spalding,
says autism will ideally be diagnosed in
young children rather than later in life.
The children will almost certainly have
shown signs of behavioural difficulty,
which may involve not speaking or not understanding what others say.
Although autistic children’s behaviour
will always vary, they are all likely to have
problems interacting with others, including their parents and siblings.
“In most cases, that will be very difficult
for the rest of the family and they often
need support,” says Janet, whose son
Ross, 33, has autism himself.
Providing that support is where the Lincolnshire Autistic Society, a charity set up
by three founder members in 1977, plays
a vital role.
Since those early days, the Society has
expanded dramatically and is now in regular contact with about 300 local people.
Support groups are also in place in towns
across Lincolnshire, including Gainsborough, Sleaford, Grantham, Louth, Lincoln
and Horncastle.
The Society has worked tirelessly to raise
awareness of autism, provide information
and training, and ensure a range of support is in place.
Janet, who is also a National Austistic
Society board member, explains: “The exact causes of autism aren’t yet fully understood, and there is no ‘cure’ as such.
“But with the right support, individuals
with autism can live fulfilled and happy
lives and realise their potential.
“Helping to provide that support – alongside health, education and other professionals – is what the Lincolnshire Autistic
Society is all about.”
What it means to be autistic
The National Autistic Society offers this
insight into autism, which affects one in
every 100 people in the UK:
“People with autism have said that the
world, to them, is a mass of people,
places and events which they struggle
to make sense of, and which can cause
them considerable anxiety.
“In particular, understanding and relating to other people, and taking part in
everyday family and social life, may be
harder for them.
“Other people appear to know intuitively how to communicate and interact
with each other, and some people with
autism may wonder why they are ‘different’.”
The Lincolnshire Autistic Society
The Society offers support to autistic
people of all ages, as well as their families and carers.
You can get in touch by phoning the
helpline on 01775 821213 or emailing
janet.corcoran@talk21.com.
The Society is one of Lincolnshire
County Council chairman Cllr Peter Bedford’s chosen charities for his
year in office, along with SSAFA Lincolnshire.
More information
The National Autistic Society also offers
invaluable support and advice. Visit
www.autism.org.uk, phone the Autism
Helpline at 0845 070 4004 or email
austismhelpline@nas.org.uk
HELPING HAND: Debbie Marshall and her son Jacob, eight, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),
have received support from the Lincolnshire Autistic Society.
Debbie, 42, from Heighington, has also set up CANadda, a support group for adults with ASD, dyslexia,
dyspraxia and ADHD, reaching out to people across Lincolnshire and as far away as Russia!
For more information, visit www.canadda.org.uk, email debbie.canadda@yahoo.co.uk or phone 01522
880922.
Lincolnshire’s finest!
The search is on for Lincolnshire’s
unsung heroes as the popular Good
Citizens Awards return for 2011.
Run by Lincolnshire County Council,
they are your chance to nominate special
people who might otherwise not get the
recognition they deserve.
The awards, which are intended to
honour local people who selflessly give
up their time to help others, come in three
categories.
They are: Citizen of the Year, Young
Citizen of the Year (aged 16 or below)
and Community Group of the Year.
To make a nomination or for more
details, simply visit www.lincolnshire.
gov.uk/goodcitizensawards and fill in the
online form.
Alternatively, send your contact
details and those of the person you’re
nominating, along with a description of
the voluntary work they’ve done, to: Good
Citizens Awards, Lincolnshire County
Council, FREEPOST DC1082, Lincoln
LN1 1BR.
The closing date for entries is Friday
29 April. More information is available
from events manager Mark Stoneham on
01522 552118.
County News 13
Feature
Your county, your website
In the first of a new series about the Lincolnshire
County Council website, we reveal your favourite
sections on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
With more than 17 million visitors in 2010,
the award-winning council website must
be doing something right!
The new-look LCC Connects was unveiled last November and has been
praised for its exciting design and innovative features.
However, success can only really be
measured by the number of times users
come back – and that figure is growing all
the time.
IT COULDN’T BE EASIER! Barry Wood,
from Bracebridge Heath, renews his
library items from home using the
internet.
Last year, our jobs, library catalogue and
lifelong learning sections proved hugely
popular, heading up this top 10 by number of visitors:
1. Job listings (2,370,313)
2. Library catalogue (1,725,722)
3. Lifelong learning (568,996)
4. Cultural collections (424,767)
5. A-Z of council services (261,812)
6. School closures (220,467)
7. School admissions (73,687)
8. Term times and holidays (69,761)
9. Events (62,517)
10. Lincoln Castle (62,068)
One of the great attractions of LCC Connects is that you can access information
and services online 24 hours a day, every
day – in other words, whenever it suits
you.
What’s more, it also saves the council
(and local taxpayers) money as a way of
providing public services.
Figures show that each customer “transaction” online costs just 27p compared
with £3.22 for phone calls and £6.56
whenever council staff deal with customers face to face.
Cllr Barry Singleton, the executive councillor for customer services and IT, said:
“We never forget that many customers
prefer to speak to our staff in person or
by phone, and we always try to offer that
option if we can.
“However, more and more residents are
choosing to access services online, which
is why we are always striving to improve
their experience of the website.”
Cllr Singleton invited potential new users
to visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk and see
for themselves what is on offer.
New features
To help you find information as quickly
and easily as possible, the website now
includes the following innovative features:
■ Tabs group types of information
together, such as contacts, downloads
and links.
■ Mega drop-down menus are
available as the main navigation option,
improving speed and use.
■ A Your Lincolnshire facility helps you
find information in your postcode area
– your county councillor, your parish,
even who empties your bins.
■ Using the Your Account page, register
for easy access to site content, as well
as newsletters and email alerts.
■ The new site search includes a “Your
Nearest” tab for services in your
area, such as libraries and doctors’
surgeries.
■ An improved A-Z of council services
allows you to find key information
quickly, plus contact details and a
location.
To find out more about LCC Connects,
please email the council’s web team at
lccconnect@lincolnshire.gov.uk or call
01522 552868.
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County News 14
Schools
All aboard the Cooking Bus!
A mobile teaching unit
is helping Lincolnshire
pupils learn all about
healthy food for life
Budding young Delia Smiths and
Jamie Olivers got the chance to spice
up their culinary skills when the
Cooking Bus rolled into Lincolnshire.
Backed by the national Focus on Food
Campaign, it is a mobile teaching kitchen
staffed by two specialist food teachers.
The Cooking Bus provides a travelling
venue for pupils, parents, teachers and the
local community to learn about food and
cooking with a variety of ingredients.
Among its stops in Lincolnshire was Helpringham Primary School, where it was
based for a week.
On board the Cooking Bus, a fully
equipped kitchen allowed participants to
watch demonstrations as well trying out
recipes for themselves.
“It’s amazing what you get to find out,”
said teacher Tracy Cooke. “Two things I
have learned are that cooking is not only
about baking and that canned and frozen
fruit and vegetables contribute to 5 A Day.”
The visit by the Cooking Bus built on
work the school had already done with the
Food for Life Partnership (FFLP), encouraging pupils to become “more willing to
try different food”.
The FFLP is a national campaign to support schools and communities across
England committed to bringing healthy
eating to the heart of school life.
In addition to cooking and eating well,
that involves finding out where food
comes from – for example, through pupils
growing their own produce and visiting local farms.
Helpringham Primary School is a FFLP
flagship school and has progressed so
well it has won a Silver Award.
Bus advisory teacher Sarah Helliwell
said: “This school is leading the way in
FOOD FOR LIFE! Helped by Tegan
Loach (left), Hannah Priestley (right)
said: “I knew how to cook already
but now I have some new recipes.”
TEAMWORK! Helpringham Primary School
pupils (from left) Craig Griffen, Sophie
Gillespie, Melek Kussan and Joshua Preston
show their talents in the kitchen.
supporting others in the area to improve
their food culture.”
Explaining her work on the Cooking Bus,
Sarah described the sessions with children, parents and teachers as “an overview of the Food for Life Partnership”
followed by hands-on cooking.
She added: “Initially, some are a bit wary
about joining in but we aim to make it enjoyable and it turns into a good social occasion.”
Bourne leads the way
Bourne Westfield Primary School was
the first school in the county to gain the
Food for Life Silver Award.
The school runs several cooking and
gardening clubs. It also has a School
Nutrition Action Group that shares
knowledge about a healthy diet and
quality food with the whole school community.
Headteacher
Tim
Bright
said:
“Through themed events, farm visits,
growing food ourselves, cooking clubs
and looking carefully at the food we
serve, we have made a real and positive impact on the diet and knowledge
of our children.”
The school is now working towards the
Food for Life Partnership Gold Award.
For more information about the Food for
Life Partnership, visit www.foodforlife.
org.uk
Open Day
Thursday 28th April
4.30-8.00pm
Free Parking on campus
www.lincolncollege.ac.uk | 01522 876000
www.facebook.com/lincolncollege
County News 15
Sport
Celebrating the
2012
Games
Excitement about the 2012 Games
isn’t confined to London – it’s also
growing here in Lincolnshire!
On 15 March, the countdown to the
Olympics enters a new phase, with only
500 days remaining until the opening ceremony.
To mark the occasion, Lincolnshire Sports
Partnership is launching a series of 2012
Games Legacy projects at a high-profile
event in the county.
A vital ingredient in
the success of the
Games is volunteering
The aim is to inspire individuals and
sports clubs across Lincolnshire to get involved – both in the run-up to 2012 and
beyond – and create a lasting sporting
legacy.
Janet Inman, the Partnership’s chief executive, said: “The Lincolnshire Steering
Group for the 2012 Games is already
working hard to ensure that Lincolnshire
benefits through business, tourism and
culture.
“We also wanted to launch something
to show that this major sporting event in
2012 will have a huge impact on sport
across the country.”
A vital ingredient in the success of the
Games is volunteering, with 200,000 people nationally applying to take part.
You can also play your part locally as a
Championing Lincolnshire
As part of the London 2012 Games, a
new logo has been created to celebrate
Lincolnshire’s involvement.
The “Championing Lincolnshire” brand
will be seen on anything highlighting the
county’s 2012 participation.
That could relate to sport, business,
volunteer – and not just while the Games
are actually being staged.
In Lincolnshire, a volunteering initiative
called “Sports Force” has been launched
to give everyone in the county – whatever
their age – an opportunity to get involved
in sport and activity.
There is also a new programme called
“Silver Spirit”, encouraging the over-50s
to enjoy sport and physical activity, whether as volunteers or participants.
The increased availability of sports facilities is another vital part of the creation of a
long-term Lincolnshire legacy.
With that in mind, the Sports Partnership
and Lincolnshire County Council have together launched the Lincolnshire Active
Community Network.
It aims to bring sport and activity to local
communities across the county by making the most of village halls, community
centres and schools that may have been
under-used.
Eventually, everyone in the county should
be able to walk or cycle to a facility where
they can take part in sport or physical activity.
The official 2012 Games Legacy launch
takes place at City Square, Lincoln, at 12
noon on Tuesday 15 March – the start of
the 500-day countdown – and everyone is
welcome to come along.
For more information about the event –
and other exciting local opportunities in
Lincolnshire as we approach 2012 – visit
www.lincolnshiresports.com and keep an
eye on the local press.
tourism or even cultural events such as
the SO Festival in Skegness.
The logo (shown alongside our headline
above) is regarded as a great way to celebrate the many different ways the 2012
Games in London are having an impact
in Lincolnshire.
Sign up for Easter sport activities
Thousands of young people in the south
of Lincolnshire can look forward to an
exciting Easter holiday.
The “Easter Sports Tour” – organised by
the Lincolnshire South East School Sport
Partnership – runs from Saturday 9 to
Sunday 24 April.
It features sporting activities and
events staged by local sports clubs and
organisations in Bourne, the Deepings
and South Holland.
For more information, visit www.lsessp.
co.uk.
FITNESS AND FUN:
Members of
Lincoln’s St Giles
Kurling Club make
the most of their
local community
centre – a trend
the Lincolnshire
Active Community
Network is keen to
promote.
Really Useful Stuff for communities!
Free training for community groups and
charities is continuing across Lincolnshire
throughout March.
The sessions are based on the Really
Useful Stuff (RUS) Handbook, which has
proved hugely popular since its launch
two years ago.
Believed to be the first guide of its kind
ever published, the RUS Handbook was
produced by Lincolnshire County Council
and voluntary organisations.
It aims to be a complete information
resource – or toolkit – for everyone
working for community groups and
charities in Lincolnshire.
Practical advice is given on all kinds of
topics, including starting and running
a group, employment and other legal
issues, and finding partnership and other
sources of support.
Like the RUS Handbook, the training
– available to volunteers, trustees, paid
staff and others – is also designed to be
completely practical.
Led by experts, the sessions, which
began in February, will help you run your
group more effectively, with particular
emphasis on:
■ Funding
■ Fundraising
■ Promoting your group
■ Recruiting and retaining management
committee members and trustees,
plus details of their roles and
responsibilities.
In addition to the training sessions, work
is also underway to update sections
of the RUS Handbook in response to
feedback from users.
These will be available later in the year at
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/reallyusefulstuff,
which also has details of the training
sessions.
For more information, or to request a free
electronic copy of the RUS Handbook:
Phone: 01522 550524
Email: reallyusefulstuff@lincolnshire.
gov.uk
County News 16
Local democracy
Meet your member
In the first of a new
series featuring the
work of Lincolnshire
County Council
backbench members,
County News caught
up with Cllr Andrea
Jenkyns, a soprano
singer from Boston
North West
PROBLEM SHARED:
Cllr Andrea Jenkyns
discusses a local issue
with Derek Mead
over a cup of tea.
Introducing Andrea
Originally from Beverley in East Yorkshire,
Andrea moved to Boston four years ago
with her partner, Mark.
She was elected to Lincolnshire County
Council in 2009 when she won the Boston North West by-election for the Conservatives at the age of 35.
Her division includes Witham, Fenside,
Brothertoft, Amberhill and Holland Fen,
and she is passionate about representing
everyone in the area.
Although a newcomer to the council, she
now sits on six different committees, including Economic Scrutiny and Children
and Young People.
Andrea also serves on Voices for Choices, which looks after the interests of children in public care in Lincolnshire.
Tackling anti-social
behaviour
Andrea founded the Boston North West
Action Group in 2009 to enhance the
quality of life for all residents in the area.
She is particularly concerned about antisocial behaviour and says: “There are so
many problems which are alcohol-related.
“When the residents did a clean-up
of Witham Bank North earlier this year,
they filled 50 bin bags full of empty drink
bottles and cans.
“That gives you an idea of the scale of the
problem.”
With that in mind, the Action Group is
campaigning for an extension of the public
drinking ban in force in some areas to the
whole borough.
Andrea explains: “This would give the
police the power to confiscate alcohol in
public places where it is related to antisocial behaviour.”
Residents interested in joining the campaign can get in touch with Andrea directly or via www.banstreetbooze.com.
Passionate about people
Besides her work with the Action Group,
Andrea throws herself into a range of local
activities.
With her musical background, she organised a weekend musical celebration in aid
of homelessness charity Centrepoint Outreach.
Andrea also helped organise last year’s
Inspire Music Festival at St Botolph’s (the
“Boston Stump”) and the entertainment at
Boston Christmas Market, and performs
regularly as a singer at local charity events.
Describing her outlook, Andrea – a vegan
– says: “I care passionately about wanting
to protect people, children and animals in
our society.”
Batting for business
Alongside her council, community and
singing work, Andrea is the business development manager of an international
training company.
She explains: “I have been involved in
business and industry for the last 15 years
– my previous roles include being an area
manager for a UK retail brand, with re-
sponsibility for 40 branches, multi-million
pound budgets and more than 450 personnel.”
Always keen on a fresh challenge, Andrea is now studying economics through
the Open University. She also has experience of running her own business.
A musical journey
From humble beginnings with her school
choir, Andrea’s musical career has, in her
own words, “certainly been colourful”.
She describes herself as a soprano singer, songwriter and music teacher, and has
performed in front of the Prime Minister of
Pakistan in Islamabad and audiences of
80,000 in the UK.
Andrea – who released an album featuring “an eclectic mix of genres” following
her trip to Pakistan – still performs regularly at concerts, but left a job with the
Lincolnshire Music Service to become a
councillor.
Choosing the positive
“In my spare time, I have a passion for my
family, history, genealogy and animals, and
I enjoy cooking and having friends over for
dinner,” says Andrea.
“I always try to see light and humour
in my everyday life. My life philosophy is
that we always have a choice – to add a
positive or negative chapter to the lives of
those we interact with – and I choose the
positive.
“Lastly, I like to bring a little (or a lot) of
happiness to all the people (and animals) I
may meet along the way.”
Andrea can be contacted on
01205 310329 or by email at
cllra.jenkyns@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
There is more information about her
activities in Boston North West at
www.andreajenkyns.com
Your county councillor
Lincolnshire County Council has 77
elected members, each serving a
different area of the county known as a
division.
To find your county councillor – and to
learn more about the work of elected
members – visit www.lincolnshire.gov.
uk/localdemocracy or phone 01522
552840.
County News 17
Recipe
...GOOD TASTE
A recipe from Rachel!
The fabulous quality of Lincolnshire food has
won it a reputation most other counties could
only dream of!
It also earns about £1 billion a year for the local
economy, making it the third biggest industry in the
county.
To celebrate this vital aspect of our local heritage,
County News will be publishing a mouth-watering
recipe in each edition.
Launching the series is award-winning county
chef Rachel Green, who has a string of television appearances and two cookbooks under
her belt.
Rachel, a Lincolnshire farmer’s daughter, lets
you into the secret of a perfect carrot and ginger soup with lemon herb cream – a variation
on a traditional vegetable soup. It serves four
LINCOLNSHIRE LASS:
people and is suitable for vegetarians.
Celebrity chef Rachel Green.
The recipe combines local ingredients such as
carrots and onions with a touch of the exotic in the
form of ginger and curry powder!
Rachel says: “This is a simple, cheap and wholesome recipe that is quick to make but
will linger long in your memory.
“It’s perfect as a starter with a bigger meal or, served with crusty wholemeal bread, as
a filling snack on its own.”
Carrot and ginger soup
Ingredients
Carrot and ginger soup
2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, peeled and chopped
600g carrots, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp medium curry powder
900ml good stock, chicken or vegetable
1 lemon, zested
LOCAL VARIATION:
Carrot and ginger soup
with lemon herb cream.
Lemon herb cream
200g crème fraiche
1 lemon, zested
1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp chives, finely chopped
Method
Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onions and carrots and cook for 5-10 minutes,
stirring from time to time. Do not allow the vegetables to brown.
Car Insurance
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insurance with no
nasty surprises.’
• No upper age limit
• No hidden fees to pay
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For a no-obligation quote, visit us at:
Boston: County Hall, Boston, PE21 6DY
Tel:01522 554 995
Grimsby: The Elms, 22 Abbey Rd, DN32 0HW
Tel: 01472 344976
Horncastle: The Old School House, Manor House St, LN9 5HF
Tel: 01507 524242
Lincoln: Park St 50+ Activity Centre, Lincoln, LN1 1UQ
Tel: 01522 527694
Scunthorpe: 31 Frances St, Scunthorpe, DN15 6NS
Tel: 01724 849819
Sleaford: Council Offices, Kesteven St, NG34 7EB
Tel: 01529 302843
or call Ageas’ UK based call centre on 0845 600 3327
or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/carinsurance
Add the garlic, ginger and curry powder to the pan and cook for a further minute.
Add the stock and lemon zest, bring to the boil and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or
until the carrots are tender. Liquidise the soup until smooth, taste and season with
sea salt and black pepper.
To make the lemon herb cream, mix together the crème fraiche, lemon zest and
herbs. Reheat the soup and spoon a dollop of the lemon herb cream into the middle
of each bowl. Serve with crusty wholemeal bread.
To find out more about Rachel, the ambassador for the Select Lincolnshire food brand,
visit www.rachel-green.co.uk
Motor Insurance is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.
Age UK is a registered trademark of Age UK (Charity no 1128267). The use of the name and logo Age UK
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1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER. ID9602 10/10. M2036V1OCT10 SL023316_11
County News 18
Competition
Highlight of the county calendar
Win family passes to
the wonderful Belton
Horse Trials in our
free prize draw
World-class equestrian events come
together with cooking demonstrations, fashion shows, dog agility
displays and much more for a truly
memorable weekend.
The Horse Trials take place in the beautiful parkland surrounding Belton House, a
17th-century National Trust property near
Grantham, from 1-3 April.
As always, they will attract the best international riders, all bidding for glory in
disciplines as varied as dressage, crosscountry and show-jumping.
Their fabulous riding skills draw in thousands of equestrian enthusiasts from
across Lincolnshire, the country and even
abroad.
Stuart Buntine, of organisers BEDE
Events, stressed that the Horse Trials are
“a wonderful occasion for visitors of all
ages and interests – there really is something for everyone!”
Besides the equestrian events, including the famous Grantham Cup, organisers
promise a whole range of family activities.
Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy
the very best of local food, plus cooking
demonstrations on the Friday by leading
local chefs in the new Grantham Mall area.
On Saturday, Ladies Day features fashion
shows and more than 100 trade stands of-
MEMORABLE: The Belton Horse
Trials feature the best of equestrian
eventing plus much more besides.
fering everything from jewellery and beautiful clothing to dog rugs and pictures.
There are also dog activities, pony club
games, rural crafts and activities for
youngsters, including a climbing wall and
a traditional funfair.
On the Sunday, the whole family can enjoy Jez Avery’s Honda Buggy and Trial Bike
Win exclusive family passes
County News has teamed up with
Horse Trials organiser BEDE Events
to give away six fabulous family passes in our prize draw. Each one offers:
■ A weekend car pass giving free
admission and parking (on all days,
for all occupants of the car).
■ A voucher for a free programme.
■ Two passes allowing access to the
Members’ enclosure.
■ A course walk with a rider, giving a
unique insight into what riders look
for before competing.
To have a chance of winning, please
send your name, address and daytime
phone number, plus a stamped addressed envelope, to: County News
Competition at Belton, BEDE Events,
Cottage 5, Shelford Manor, Shelford,
Nottingham NG12 1ES.
Alternatively, please email your entry
to info@bedeltd.co.uk, putting County
News Competition in the subject box.
The closing date for entries is
Friday 18 March. The winners are
the first six names drawn out of the
hat after that date. Entrants must be
aged 18 or over and should not be
Lincolnshire County Council employees. There is no cash alternative to the
prizes.
Stunt Show, the awesome MAD Mountain
Bikes, street entertainers and loads more,
including the opportunity to try some of
the stunts.
Tickets for the Belton Horse Trials cost
£15 per adult on the gate (£10 in advance). Children under 14 enjoy free admission.
For more information and advanced
tickets, call 01949 829061 or visit
www.granthamcup.co.uk
NOTICE OF MINIMUM NUMBER OF THE ELECTORATE REQUIRED TO
PETITION FOR A REFERENDUM FOR AN ELECTED MAYOR
Under the Local Government Act 2000 and
under the Local Government and Public
Involvement in Health Act 2007, one of the
things we have to do by law is let people know
about their right to ask for a referendum if
they want an elected mayor to manage their
council. We also have to tell you the numbers
needed for a valid petition.
These figures will be used to check the validity of any petition received between 1 April
2011 and 31 March 2012 or any earlier date
required by Government Regulation.
If 5% of the number of people on the local
electoral register submit a petition asking
for a referendum for an elected mayor, then
the local council must hold a referendum in
their area. We have listed the numbers of
people the 5% equates to in each council
district in Lincolnshire, as well as the total for
Lincolnshire County Council – these figures
apply from February 2011.
The petition must be signed by the correct
number of people (using the 5% figures for
your district listed above) and delivered to a
council’s ‘principal office’.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Boston Borough
East Lindsey
City of Lincoln
North Kesteven
South Holland
South Kesteven
West Lindsey
Lincolnshire
5% (rounded)
2354
5306
3253
4129
3506
5251
3619
27418
b. East Lindsey – Chief Executive,
East Lindsey District Council,
Tedder Hall, Manby Park,
Louth, Lincs. LN11 8UP.
Tel: 01507 601111
(www.e-lindsey.gov.uk)
f.
c. City of Lincoln – Chief Executive and
Town Clerk,
City of Lincoln Council,
Beaumont Fee, Lincoln. LN1 1DD.
Tel: 01522 881188
(www.lincoln.gov.uk)
g. West Lindsey – Chief Executive,
West Lindsey District Council,
Guildhall, Marshalls Yard, Gainsborough,
Lincs. DN21 2NA.
Tel: 01427 676676
(www.west-lindsey.gov.uk)
The address for the Councils in Lincolnshire
are:-
d. North Kesteven – Chief Executive,
North Kesteven District Council,
Council Offices,
Kesteven Street, Sleaford,
Lincs. NG34 7EF.
Tel: 01529 414155
(www.n-kesteven.gov.uk)
h. Lincolnshire – Chief Executive,
Lincolnshire County Council,
County Offices,
Newland,
Lincoln. LN1 1YL.
Tel: 01522 552222
(www.lincolnshire.gov.uk)
a. Boston – The Chief Executive,
Boston Borough Council,
Municipal Buildings,
West Street, Boston, Lincs. PE21 8QR.
Tel: 01205 314200
(www.boston.gov.uk)
e. South Holland – Chief Executive,
South Holland District Council,
Council Offices, Priory Road,
Spalding, Lincs. PE11 2XE.
Tel: 01775 761161
(www.sholland.gov.uk)
Tony McArdle
Chief Executive
Lincolnshire County Council
Every year we publish the 5% figures and remind you of your right to tell us in a petition
that you would like a referendum.
Do not forget that in Lincolnshire you have two
‘principal offices’ – your local District Council
and Lincolnshire County Council. If you want
a referendum for both, petitions need to be
completed and sent to both.
South Kesteven – Chief Executive
South Kesteven District Council,
St Peter’s Hill, Grantham,
Lincs. NG31 6PZ.
Tel: 01476 406080
(www.southkesteven.gov.uk)
County News 19
Heritage
Where history comes alive
Spring brings the opportunity for fun
days out – and where better than Lincoln Castle?
Every inch of the site is steeped in history,
telling the 900-year story of the Normans,
Victorians and others who have made it
their stronghold.
Nothing in the castle’s history is more remarkable than Magna Carta, one of four
surviving originals sealed by King John in
1215.
Regarded as the cornerstone of liberty,
the document records a series of concessions extracted from the unwilling king by
his rebellious barons.
It is permanently on display at the castle – along with the Charter of the Forest,
which gave new rights to the common
man – in a recently upgraded exhibition.
If historic documents aren’t your thing,
then take a tour of the Victorian prison
from where unfortunate prisoners could
be transported to Australia or led out to
their execution.
You can also enjoy the stunning views
from the castle walls, which Lincolnshire
County Council hopes to fully open for the
first time later this year. A lift could form
part of further improvements over the next
few years.
On top of all that, there are plenty of
special events at the castle, including the
following coming up over the next three
months:
■ Discover Greater Lincolnshire
Weekend – free entry plus reenactments – 5-6 March.
■ Start of Lincoln 10km Road Race –
11am on 3 April.
■ Friends of Lincoln Castle Weekend,
including re-enactments – 16-17 April.
■ Easter Family Fun – 23-24 April.
■ 1,000 Years of Traditional Crafts –
marvel at a range of heritage skills,
from masons and thatchers to weavers
and calligraphers – 21 May.
Looking ahead, work is due to start on a
new Heritage Skills Centre in the castle
grounds in the autumn. It will train restoration workers, and visitors will be able to
watch them honing their skills.
There are also plans to regenerate the
whole castle site over the next few years,
providing a new home for Magna Carta.
GATEWAY TO HISTORY:
The imposing walls of
Lincoln Castle contain
historical treasures
including Magna Carta.
Lincoln Castle is open seven days a
week, from 10am. For information about
this and other Lincolnshire County
Council heritage sites, visit www.
lincolnshire.gov.uk/heritage or phone
01522 782040.
Improving Lincolnshire business through ideas and creativity
Contact Details
www.innovationlincolnsh
ire.co.uk/IAG
innovationlincolnshire@
angleplc.com
Tel: 0800 848 8840
innovationevents
@angleplc.com
To find out more about
Solutions for Business
call Business Link on
0845 058 6644 or visit
www.businesslink.gov.uk
/eastmidlands
Are you an innovative business, or do you have an idea, a
problem or opportunity?
The ANGLE team provide the knowledge and creativity to help
small and medium sized businesses like yours to improve,
grow and be profitable through the development and use of
new ideas.
We help you fulfil your potential by making ideas realistic and
achievable, by showing you how and helping you make them
happen. Our Innovation Managers have hugely varied
backgrounds that form a versatile and creative resource that is
available at no cost to eligible businesses.
Innovation Advice and Guidance has already helped many
small businesses like yours to be the best they can be Ð go on
our website to see details. ItÕ s now your chance to benefit!
Free to eligible Lincolnshire businesses
We also have a stimulating new season of business events,
with our next seminar scheduled in late May. To keep up to
date email innovationevenets@angleplc.com and ask to be
added to our mailing list for the latest news and events.
Innovation Advice and Guidance is part of Solutions for
Business, the GovernmentÕ s portfolio of publicly funded
business support to help companies start and grow.
For more information about Innovation Advice and
Guidance or to book a place visit
www.innovationlincolnshire.co.uk/IAG
or call 0800 848 8840
or email innovationevents@angleplc.com
County News 20
What’s on
What’s on
WORKING WITH NATURE: Gardening for
Butterflies, such as this beautiful Painted
Lady, is the activity on offer at Chambers
Farm Wood on 1 and 15 March.
in Lincolnshire
March-April events
■ Gardening for Butterflies
1 and 15 March, 10am-3pm
Wragby Forestry Commission, Chambers
Farm Wood & Education Centre, Hoop Lane,
near Wragby. Help look after the wonderful
Butterfly Garden with Butterfly Conservation
(Lincolnshire Branch). Phone 01472 879624
before travelling as weather may have an
impact. Visit www.lincolnshire-butterflies.
org.uk.
■ Lincolnshire’s Aviation Heritage
5 March, 10am-12noon
Lincolnshire Archives, St Rumbold Street,
Lincoln. Talk and document display. Free.
Places limited. Phone 01522 782040.
■ Lincolnshire Farm Buildings
5 March, 10.30am-12.30pm
Heighington Jubilee Hall, High Street.
An introductory talk about Lincolnshire’s
agricultural heritage. Free. Places limited so
please book on 01529 461499.
■ Discover Greater Lincolnshire Weekend
5 and 6 March
Tourist attractions will be throwing open their
doors and putting on exciting free activities.
Venues in Lincoln include the Cathedral,
the Castle and The Collection. Elsewhere
in Lincolnshire, check out Goltho Gardens,
near Market Rasen, Waltham Windmill, near
Cleethorpes, the Natural World Centre at
Whisby Nature Park and the Spalding Flower
Bulb Museum. For full listings, visit
www.discover-lincolnshire.com.
■ Jewels of the Winter/Spring Night Sky
11 March, 7.30pm
Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve,
Skegness. Explore the winter and spring
constellations and stars. Booking essential on
01754 898057.
■ Rumble in the Jungle Family Day
12 March, 10am-4pm
Take part in a range of free craft activities at
Grantham Museum, St Peter's Hill.
01476 568783.
■ High Streetwise
15 March, 6.30pm-8pm
Grantham Museum, St Peter’s Hill. An
illustrated talk by John Pinchbeck taking a
journey through time along the town’s main
street. Places are free but limited.
01476 568783.
Project1_Layout 1 16/02/2011 09:35 Page 1
NEW BG BUSINESS AND
ENTERPRISE CENTRE
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
■ Open Day at Temple Bruer
19 March, 11am-3pm
Templar Preceptory Tower, Temple Road,
Temple Bruer. Phone 01529 461499 or visit
www.lincsheritage.org.
■ Health from the Forest
20 March, 10am-2pm
Wragby Forestry Commission, Chambers
Farm Wood & Education Centre, Hoop Lane,
near Wragby. Learn how to craft your own
medicines and salves. £10 per person, adults
only. Booking essential on 01623 822447.
Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/eastmidlands.
■ Lincoln 10km Road Race
3 April, 11am
Starts in Lincoln Castle grounds. A popular
race for athletes of all abilities – visit
www.lincoln10k.co.uk.
■ Swimathon 2011
8-10 April
Support the world’s biggest fundraising swim.
Choose your challenge and pool, and invite
friends and family to join or sponsor you in aid
of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Call 0845 36
700 36 or visit www.swimathon.org.
■ Romans in Lincolnshire
8 and 15 April, 9.30am-12.30pm
Heritage Lincolnshire, Cameron Street,
Heckington. Two different lectures looking
at aspects of Roman building, history and
archaeology in Lincolnshire. Phone 01529
461499 or visit www.lincsheritage.org.
■ Birdwatching Cruises
From 13 April
South Lincs RSPB Wash Cruises on the
Boston Belle, leaving from Sluice Bridge,
Boston. Cruises last four or five hours and
offer the chance to see many bird species
and usually seals as well. For a copy of the
brochure email slincsbirdcruises@btinternet.
com or call 07531495521.
■ Saturn and the Spring Night Sky
15 April, 8pm
Whisby Nature Park, Thorpe on the Hill, near
Lincoln. See Saturn with its rings and explore
the delights of the spring night sky. Booking
essential on 01522 696926.
15 BUSINESS INCUBATOR UNITS
CONFERENCE ROOMS
EXHIBITION SPACE
Due to be completed November 2011.
For more information or to enquire about a business
incubation unit for your start-up, contact Business
Development Manager Mark Bowen on (01522) 583727
or email mark.bowen@bishopg.ac.uk
■ Spalding Flower Parade
30 April, 2pm
Parade leaves from Springfields Events
Centre at 2pm. For more details, see full story
on page 5.
www.bishopg.ac.uk
Exhibitions
■ Photography Exhibition
Until 26 March, Monday to Saturday,
10am-4pm
Grantham Museum, St Peter’s Hill. Exhibition
by local photographer Martin Cameron.
01476 568783.
■ Stamford New Developments
Until 30 April, Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm
Stamford Museum, Broad Street. A
photographic exhibition looking at the
changing face of Stamford over the years.
Free entry. 01780 766317.
■ A Personal Collection of Vivienne
Westwood Shoes
Until 2 May, 10am-5pm every day
National Centre for Craft and Design, Carre
Street, Sleaford.
Exhibition based around a private collection
amassed over 15 years. 01529 308710 or
www.thehubcentre.info.
■ OPEM 2011
Until 3 May, 10am-4pm every day
The Collection, Danes Terrace, Lincoln.
OPEM (Open East Midlands) showcases
contemporary art. Free entry. 01522 550990.
Event publicity
To submit details of an event for a future
edition, please email countynews@
lincolnshire.gov.uk at least three months
before it is due to take place. Due to the
volume of requests, we cannot guarantee
inclusion, so please make other publicity
arrangements.
You can also publicise events on Lincolnshire
County Council’s website. Visit www.
lincolnshire.gov.uk/whatson, email events@
lincolnshire.gov.uk or call 01522 552868.
MORE INFORMATION
For details of Lincolnshire County
Council heritage sites, including
Gainsborough Old Hall, The Collection,
Lincoln Castle and the Museum of
Lincolnshire Life, visit www.lincolnshire.
gov.uk/heritage or phone 01522
782040.
General tourist information can be found
at www.visitlincolnshire.com. For the
Lincolnshire Heritage Forum, visit www.
lincsheritageforum.org.uk.
Please note: The information on this page is correct at the time of going to press. However, you may
wish to confirm details with event organisers before starting your journey.