Christmas bonus for Boston bus users
Improvements to the Boston Into Town bus service will see some changes from this December.

Following a review of the service and requests from customers, Brylaine Travel will be making some small amendments to its routes and timetables to ensure improved reliability, whilst still maintaining the high quality.

From Tuesday 8 December, the existing Into Town service will be streamlined to enhance journey times for passengers.  The route will continue as far as Woad Farm after 9am, rather than going on to the Bladon Estate.

However, not only will the Bladon Estate still be served during peak hour journeys before 9am, residents will have access to a new bus – Service 61. The service, independent of the Into Town bus network, will offer hourly trips from the Bladon Estate during the day and will also call at Fishtoft and South Parade/Welland Road, which are areas not previously served.

Anita Ruffle, Public Transport Strategy and Development Manager for Lincolnshire County Council, said:

“We are pleased to respond to passenger feedback and make the changes which will see this highly-popular service become more reliable and efficient.  The addition of the new Service 61 also opens up new travel opportunities for areas not previously served and will complement the Into Town buses superbly.

“This will make it easier and quicker for people to reach the town centre and Asda, in perfect timing for Christmas shopping trips. Furthermore, you can still travel across town on any Into Town route or Service 61 for a single flat fare of £1 for an adult or 70p for a child, while concessionary pass holders travel free. This means the service will still give great value for money, leaving extra pennies for presents.”

There will be no changes to the Fenside routes (IT1/2), but the Robin Hood’s Walk routes (IT3/4) will have slightly adjusted running times.

For full timetable information, contact Traveline on 0871 2002233 or visit the Traveline website (link on right) .  Leaflets are also available from operator Brylaine Travel, bus drivers and local Tourist Information Centres and libraries.

This new Brylaine Travel service 61 will operate from the Market Place via Freiston Road, Eastwood Road, Hawthorne Tree Corner, the Bladon Estate, Fishtoft Church Green Road, Rider Gardens and Fishtoft Road, returning to the Market Place. The service will then continue to Asda, Sleaford Road, South Parade, Welland Road, returning to the Market Place via Sleaford Road and Asda.

Butchers offered training to reduce the stakes!

A PROGRAMME of seminars is being put together by East Lindsey District Council to support butchers who are keen to improve their food hygiene practices.

50 butchers from across the District met at Louth Town Hall on October 26, 2009, where they discussed the findings of a survey they took part in during the summer that looked at how they can reduce the risk of E.coli 0157 from contaminating meat.

The main source of E.coli 0157 in the UK is from the intestines of healthy cattle. It is possible that they can become contaminated in slaughter if hygiene standards are allowed to slip.

At the event the butchers were able to discuss common issues and look at how these could be addressed by sharing experiences and best practice.

Following this East Lindsey District Council has agreed to put together a programme of training events and seminars to help reduce the risk of an E. coli 0157 outbreak in East Lindsey.

Portfolio Holder for Health, Councillor Sandra Harrison, said it is important the Council gives practical support and advice to businesses to improve their food hygiene standards: “Lincolnshire is renowned for the quality of its local produce and meats and people need to be reassured that the food they are buying has been prepared in a safe way.  One way that we’ve been doing this is through the Scores on Doors food star rating system that shows the community the standard of hygiene a business has achieved when inspected.  By offering our support and advice to butchers we hope they will be able to further improve their practices.”

Your Louth Needs You!

LOUTH’S Town Centre Partnership will move a step closer later this month when the first workshop takes place to identify some of the key participants and to establish the early priorities for the Partnership to focus on.

Louth’s Town Centre Partnership workshop will be held on November 26 at 9am at Kenwick Park Hotel.  This important meeting will finish at around 3pm with refreshments and a buffet lunch provided.

Mark Barnes, Louth’s Town Centre Manager, said: “This is an essential first step hosted by a company that has been involved in setting up some of the most successful Town Centre Partnerships in the UK.  The workshop is open to all but it is essential that people confirm that they are coming as places have to be unfortunately limited.”

Invitations are currently being sent out to businesses and those who have already registered an interest in being involved.

Mark, added: “This process must be totally democratic and no one who cares about Louth and its future should miss out whatever role they currently take in the community.  I understand that some people may find it difficult to make this meeting due to commitments and if this is the case they should get in touch with me so that I can ensure that they still have the opportunity to join and shape the Partnership for the next stage.”

Once formed, the Partnership will be involved in all aspects of the town with the priorities determined by the members.  Mark, explained: “The Partnership will be looking to ensure that the look and feel of the town is as inviting as possible and that living in and visiting the town is an enjoyable experience that will encourage more people to the town who stay longer.  This is a totally new opportunity for Louth and I really hope that it is embraced by everyone.”

For further information or to book a place, contact Mark Barnes on 07917 628149 or by email at mark.barnes@e-lindsey.gov.uk

Remembrance Day Skegness 2009

An excellent turnout for the Remembrance Sunday service, led by Rev Malcolm France, at St Matthew’s Church cenotaph this morning.

Video of the Remembrance Day Parade, memorial service and poppy wreath laying coming soon.

Draft Shoreline Management Plan Public Consultation

New Lincs Wind Farm off Skegness

REG-Centrica PLC Centrica to Invest £725 Million to Build 270MW Offshore Wind Farm and Also Announces Equity Partner and Refinancing of Existing Wind Portfolio

CENTRICA TO INVEST £725 MILLION TO BUILD 270MW OFFSHORE WIND FARM AND ALSO
ANNOUNCES EQUITY PARTNER AND REFINANCING OF EXISTING WIND PORTFOLIO

Centrica plc, the parent company of British Gas, today announced that its 270
megawatt (MW) Lincs offshore wind project has received final investment
approval, and that construction is expected to begin in 2010.

Lincs will be situated eight kilometres off the coast of Skegness next to
Centrica`s existing wind farm developments at Lynn and Inner Dowsing and will
comprise of 75 3.6MW Siemens turbines. Investment in this project is expected to
total approximately £725 million and the wind farm should start generating power
towards the end of 2012. When Lincs is completed, Centrica will have equity
interests in operating renewable energy projects with an installed capacity of
650MW.

Under current UK Government proposals, Lincs will attract two Renewable
Obligation Certificates (ROCs) for every megawatt hour (MWh) produced, following
the UK Government`s decision in April to enhance the level of support provided
for new offshore wind projects.

Centrica also announced that it has agreed the sale of a 50 per cent equity
stake in its Lynn, Inner Dowsing and Glens of Foudland wind farms to the
US-based investment management company TCW for a cash consideration of £84
million, and entered into agreements to raise approximately £340 million of
non-recourse project finance facilities from a consortium of banks for these
assets. The transactions value the wind farms at approximately £460 million in
aggregate. Profit on disposal of this 50 per cent equity stake will be around
£50 million. Reported operating profit in the year ended 31 December 2008 from
these wind assets was £17 million, however, the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind
farms were not fully commissioned until December 2008.

Centrica is also entering into a joint venture agreement with TCW to govern
their ongoing relationship as co-owners of the Lynn, Inner Dowsing and Glens of
Foudland wind farms. The agreement contains customary rights for each party to
acquire the other party`s shares in the joint venture company at fair market
value following a material default by, or on the insolvency of, the other party.

Through its subsidiary British Gas Trading Ltd, Centrica will also enter into a
15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to off-take all the electricity
production together with 50 per cent of the ROCs generated by the three
refinanced wind farms.

Financial close on the non-recourse project finance facilities is expected to
occur in November 2009 and the equity sale is expected to close before year end,
conditional on receipt of European Community Merger Regulation (ECMR) approvals.

Sam Laidlaw, Chief Executive of Centrica, said: “Our decision to build Lincs
illustrates our continued commitment to develop renewable generation and
confirms our position as one of the UK leaders in green energy. The Government`s
enhanced financial framework for offshore wind has been fundamental in improving
the overall project economics of this development.

“The refinancing and equity sale of part of our existing wind portfolio
underlines the quality of the operational assets and creates a structure for
recycling Centrica`s capital and mobilising third party funds efficiently. This
is a milestone in our renewables strategy and we look forward to working
together with TCW who bring significant global expertise in energy investments.”

1. Lincs wind farm will be capable of generating electricity for around 200,000
British Gas customers. Centrica has also submitted planning consent applications
for the Docking Shoal wind farm (540MW, submitted in December 2008) and the Race
Bank wind farm (640MW, submitted in January 2009), both situated in the Greater
Wash area.

2. Lincs has planning consent for 250MW with a proposed additional 20MW to be
constructed in the footprint of the Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farm development
but connected to the Lincs transmission.

3. The wind farms included in the refinancing are currently wholly owned by
Centrica: the Lynn and Inner Dowsing offshore wind farms (each with 97 MW
installed capacity with combined maximum grid export capacity of 180 MW) and the
Glens of Foudland onshore wind farm (26 MW). These wind farms are owned by
Centrica`s subsidiary GLID Wind Farms Topco Ltd.

4. TCW is a subsidiary of Société Générale Asset Management, which has
approximately $400 billion under management. TCW is making the investment in
GLID Wind Farms Topco Ltd through two of the investment funds it manages: the
US$2.6 billion TCW Energy Fund XIV and the €354 million TCW European Clean
Energy Fund.

5. The following lenders form the consortium of banks providing debt finance to
GLID Wind Farms Topco Ltd;

Bank of Ireland, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Bayern LB, BBVA, BNP Paribas
Fortis, Calyon, Dexia, HSBC Bank plc, KfW IPEX Bank, Lloyds TSB Corporate
Markets, National Australia Bank, NIBC Bank N.V., RaboBank, Santander

6. Lincs is expected to be a transitional project for OFTO purposes, which means
that the offshore transmission assets for this project will be built by Centrica
and their cost will be recovered post construction through an auction process.
Centrica expects the costs related to these assets to amount to approximately
£230 million, in addition to its own investment of approximately £725m in the
wind farm itself. The Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms are not subject to the
Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) regime.

7. Centrica was advised by Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Credit Suisse
Securities (Europe) Limited in respect of the refinancing of the Lynn, Inner
Dowsing and Glens of Foudland wind farms and the sale of an equity interest in
GLID Wind Farms Topco Ltd. Slaughter & May provided legal advice to Centrica.
Linklaters provided legal advice to the consortium of banks.

Chicken company receives a hefty fine for causing a fly infestation

LOCAL poultry and egg producer LJ Fairburn and Son Ltd based in Beesby have been fined a total of £20,000 and order to pay £600 costs for failing to control flies at their premises resulting in fly infestations that affected resident living nearby.

Appearing at Skegness Magistrates Court on October 21, 2009 they pleaded guilty to two offences under The Environmental Protection Act 1990 for breaching the terms of an Abatement Notice served by East Lindsey District Council in June 2008 as a result of a similar infestation.
The Council launched a further investigation in March 2009 following complaints from nearby villagers that their homes were being infested with flies. It was found on visiting the site at Beesby that a fly control programme, which was required under the Abatement Notice, had not been put in place.  This resulted in swarms of flies on the farm and in the sheds which house the chickens, which then also infested the surrounding area.

David Dodds, Environmental Health Officer at the Council, said: “The flies were causing an issue for residents living near the site in Beesby.  After we were unable to resolve the issues with Fairburn’s we had no choice but to take enforcement action against the company and demanded that they reviewed their working practices immediately.  Taking a case to court is always the last resort for us, but we are prepared to take enforcement action to respond to issues that are affecting the quality of life for our residents.”

Skegness Postmen Booze-up

Picket posties on pop at 7am

BOOZED-UP posties brought disgrace to the picket lines yesterday.

Strikers downed strong lager and swore at motorists as their action heaped misery on millions.

The strike, which started on Thursday, has led to a 30million backlog of letters – predicted to rise to 200million by the end of next week.

But one group of strikers made light of the crisis – and launched their second day of striking with an early morning booze up. Chef Mark Kershaw, 21, passed the 30-strong picket line in Skegness, Lincs.

He said: “They had got a stack of cases and were necking bottles of Stella. The line smelled of ale and it was obvious some were drunk.

“A motorist shouted for them to get back to work.

“One of them raised his bottle and shouted ‘F*** off’. It’s not how to get suppport for a strike.”

Last night CWU union spokesman Paul Moffat admitted strikers in Skegness had been drinking – but claimed no one was drunk.

He also confirmed an altercation with a motorist though he denied there was swearing.

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He said: “We’ve reiterated to them there should never be alcohol on a picket line.”

Meanwhile, mail jammed postboxes as 42,000 staff who walked out on Thursday were joined by 78,000 yesterday.

Some 5,000 managers rolled up sleeves to help – and the Royal Mail said one in five staff had crossed picket lines.

The CWU plans three more days of strikes from next Thursday over pay, jobs and modernisation. It warned last night that strikes could last beyond Christmas and threatened legal action over the recruitment of 30,000 temps to handle backlogs.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson yesterday said the heart of the dispute was about modernisation.

He denied claims he had provoked the CWU and admitted relations had broken down between parts of the union and the Royal Mail.

Bosses refuse to go to conciliation talks until strike threats are withdrawn.

Source: The Sun

Photo: The Sun

Rare Railway Poster Auction in Skegness

Rare poster to go on auction in Skegness

A RARE Lincolnshire railway poster from the 1950s is due to go for auction at the Mart Saleroom, Skegness next Thursday.

The original poster has been placed into the auction by Charlie King of Skegness whose family worked on the local railways prior to their closure in 1969.

The poster has been tucked away in Mr Kings loft until recently when he dusted it down and decided to sell it.

The poster depicts a map of Lincolnshire showing in full colour places of interest and Lincolnshire railway lines of the 1950s.

Anybody wishing to view may do so on Wednesday October 28 at Turner Evans Stevens Mart Saleroom on Roman Bank, Skegness between 10am and 6pm. The auction starts at 10.30am and all proceeds will go to Kidney Research.

Council to give Christmas Party Money to Local Schools

Council to give split Christmas party money between schools

MONEY which had been set aside by Skegness Town Council for a children’s Christmas party is to be distributed between the parents associations of local primary schools.

At a previous meeting of the full council, members voted to scrap the traditional Christmas party at Xsite skatepark after the number of children attending had fallen in previous years.

Last week, the council’s management committee voted in favour of splitting the £1,500 set in this year’s budget between the local schools pro rata per pupil which could be used to supplement their usual Christmas party for children.

They also agreed that the public should be consulted early in the New Year about whether they would like a party in future years and where their preferred venues would be to hold it.

Members had considered the option of giving vouchers to children for attractions in Skegness but decided that adding to school’s Christmas party budgets would be a good way to reach the majority of local children.

Cllr Steve Kirk said: “If the mayor could make a donation to the friends of the school then we are hitting every child. I think that would be the way forward to best serve the parents and young people of this town.”

Cllr Gary Ellis agreed saying: “I’m happy to support the idea but the schools have got to show that the money went on for children at Christmas. The same rules should apply as for any other grant.”

Woman found hanged at Wainfleet is named

Arguing Couple Sought after Binbag Baby Find

Police investigating the discovery of a newborn baby’s body at a Lincolnshire waste site want to trace a couple seen arguing in a nearby town.

The body was found wrapped in a heavily bloodstained cloth at the Greenstar Recycling Plant in Addlethorpe, near Skegness, on Thursday.

Officers want to find a couple involved in a heated argument in the St Clements area of Skegness on Thursday morning.

The girl, aged between 16 and 18, was on a bike with a man in his 40s.

A witness said the woman sat down by the side of the road and began screaming.

She said the man had shouted at the young woman and tried to pull her to her feet.

Checking for glass

Officers want to contact the couple to eliminate them from their inquiries.

The body was found by a worker checking for glass in material brought to the site for recycling.

Detectives believe the mother may be from the Skegness area, as household bins were collected in the town earlier in the week and delivered to the plant on Wednesday.

However, officers are not discounting the possibility that the mother could have come from anywhere in the country.

Police have confirmed a failed abortion is not an option being considered.

The recycling site is on an industrial estate near Skegness and handles both commercial and local authority waste.

Source: BBC News

Jungle Book at Embassy Theatre Skegness

THE JUNGLE BOOK

Embassy Theatre, Skegness

Tuesday 27th October

2.30pm

The perfect half term treat for children of all ages will be presented at the Embassy Theatre as a sparkling new adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book swings into town.

This colourful retelling will include all your favourite characters in this interactive song and dance spectacular which will vividly evoke the amazing world of Kipling’s jungle.

The classic story follows the adventures of Mowgli, a young boy who is raised in the jungle by a family of wolves. When Shere Khan the tiger swears to kill the child, Baloo and Bagheera agree to take the boy to the man village for his safety. But the jungle holds dangers and surprises for them all – and Mowgli’s extraordinary adventures have just begun! The rascally King Louis, slippery snake Ka, military Colonel Harty and the cheeky monkeys all add to the mayhem and mischief as Mowgli makes his way to the man village. The show is funny, exciting and suitable for children of all ages.

This remarkable new production follows Polka Dot’s acclaimed tours of Wind In The Willows, and Robin Hood, so if you’re looking for a magnificent adventure for all the family then don’t miss this premiere production of Kipling’s timeless story

Tickets*: £9.50, Over 60’s £8.50, Children £8.50

* Handling fee applies

Box Office: 0845 674 0505

Online: http://www.embassytheatre.co.uk

Rainbow Children’s TV Show in Skegness

GREAT CHILDRENS T.V SHOW COMES TO THE

EMBASSY THEATRE, SKEGNESS FOR OCTOBER HALF TERM

Mike Newman Jnr in association with FremantleMedia presents:

PAINT THE WHOLE WORLD WITH A RAINBOW!

ZIPPY, GEORGE & BUNGLE STAR IN A BRAND NEW THEATRE SHOW…
RAINBOW LIVE! “ZIPPY SUPERSTAR DJ”

Stars of the classic children’s television programme “Rainbow”, (Recently voted ‘Best Children’s TV Show of All Time’ in a survey commissioned by the BBC) takes to the stage in a brand new theatre show.

Come and join TV legends Zippy, George and Bungle as they get up to all kinds of fun and frolics in a non-stop live show full of zip!

Zippy’s life suddenly changes when he wins a hit record contract with Yellow Peril Records! With only a few hours to get Zippy ready before he leaves the Rainbow House, the gang pull together to help Zippy

turn into pop star. Zippy’s ‘rap’ record is a huge hit and quickly earns him Superstar status. But when Zippy starts to miss his Rainbow friends he has to decide where and who he’d rather be!

Zippy Superstar DJ features all of the fun ingredients associated with the classic Rainbow TV show and is suitable for all the family.

So don’t miss the chance to see Zippy, George and Bungle in with their brand new live theatre show Rainbow Live! “Zippy Superstar DJ” this October at the Embassy Theatre, Skegness.

Mike Newman Jnr, the show Presenter & Producer of Rainbow Live! says:

“I am delighted to be bringing the never-ending fun of Rainbow to the live stage. Rainbow, which was recently voted ‘Best Children’s TV Show of All Time’, will delight both children and adults alike with its

timeless mixture of fun and hilarity, combined with lots of audience participation”.

Rainbow Live! Will be appearing on Friday 30th October, 2.00pm at the Embassy Theatre, Skegness. Tickets start from £8.00 with a family ticket for four reasonably priced at £34.00. (Handling fee applies)

Tickets can be purchased from the box office in person, by telephone on 0845 674 0505 or online at http://www.embassytheatre.co.uk

For further information about Rainbow Live! Please visit http://www.rainbowlive.co.uk

January opening for £12m Meridian Leisure Centre, Louth

THE anticipated opening date for the new multi million pound Meridian Leisure Centre in Louth has been confirmed by East Lindsey District Council.  On Saturday, January 2, 2010, the £12m Leisure Centre that boasts state of the art facilities of a regional standard will open its doors to the community for the first time.

UCS Civils, the contractor overseeing the build, which has lasted18 months, is now putting the finishing touches to the building.  Subject to satisfactory completion, it is expected that the District Council will formally take ownership of the Leisure Centre in early December.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure at the District Council, Councillor Adam Grist, who has led the project from the outset, said: “I am delighted to see the Leisure Centre nearing completion.  When it opens in the New Year it will provide a much needed boost to sports and leisure provision in our area.  We are working hard to help our community improve their health and quality of life and this leisure centre will support this effort.”

In preparing for the opening, Louth’s current swimming pool will close for the last time on Sunday November 29, 2009, to allow the team of lifeguards, fitness advisors, and management sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the operation of the new Centre  and to allow the necessary training and commissioning to take place.

Iain Dunton the Leisure Centre’s Manager, said that between Louth Pool closing and the Meridian Leisure Centre opening residents would still be able to make use of the Council’s other leisure facilities across the district: “I am looking forward to getting the new team together in the leisure centre for the first time so we can train them in the new equipment.  It is important the team know the Centre inside out because we want to give our customers a safe and first class experience from the moment they first visit us.”

In the coming weeks East Lindsey District Council will be marketing the sale of the current Swimming Pool site in Louth with a view to achieving the best return possible on the asset, as outlined in national Charity Commission regulations.  Within the next few weeks the Council will begin a period of consultation with the local community to see whether they would like to see the money raised invested to benefit and support various recreational activities in the area through a grant making trust; or whether they would prefer to see the proceeds given to a recreational charity(s) for use at the discretion of the trustees.

Existing members of Louth Pool are being written to to confirm the arrangements for their transfer to the new leisure centre & new memberships will be on sale from the middle of November. Further details will follow in due course.

Community Groups wishing to book the facilities on a regular basis should contact Dominique Bernard in the Council’s Leisure Team on 01507 601111.

For a virtual tour of the Fitness Suite that will be included in the new Leisure Centre, residents can visit the Council’s website http://www.e-lindsey.gov.uk