Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire’s hospital bosses say they have “no intention” of changing Grantham A&E following concerns over a spike in infection rates.

Image source, Google

During Wednesday’s Lincolnshire County Council health scrutiny committee, Councillor Ray Wootten raised concerns that the town’s A&E may be at “breaking point” due to a lack of staff.

He said he was worried by data about a spike in Covid-19 infection rates in recent days, as well as increasing deaths across the country.

"Hospitals like Grantham A&E, which is close to breaking point due to a lack of staff, may have to close A&E if scientists' predictions are correct that infection rates are rising fast and hospitals may not be able to cope," he said.

However, Simon Evans, chief operating officer at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Although Covid-19 cases in hospitals are rising, we have plans in place to manage this alongside maintaining urgent and planned care services across our hospitals.

"While we must remain responsive to the ongoing global pandemic, we have no intention to change A&E service at Grantham hospital as part of our planning for increasing Covid-19 cases."

As of Wednesday morning, the trust had 20 confirmed Covid-19 positive in-patients.

Hull FC's owner says he's "disappointed" by Australia and New Zealand's decision to pull out of the Rugby League World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

The decision was made due to "player welfare and safety concerns" related to Covid-19, with Australia previously due to play in Hull on 23 October.

Adam Pearson, Hull FC owner, says: "They’re still talking about playing the World Cup without the two nations, but it’s a bit like playing the [football] World Cup without Brazil and France.

“My preference would be to delay it until next year, but then we’ve got a clash with the football World Cup.”

Mr Pearson says delaying the competition would enable the domestic rugby league season to catch up after several games were called off due to Covid.

A woman has died after being hit by a car as she crossed the road in a West Yorkshire town.

It happened at about 19:50 on Wednesday evening on White Lee Road in Heckmondwike when a grey Seat Leon collided with the female pedestrian.

The woman, 69, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to West Yorkshire Police.

A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is currently in custody, officers add.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has information or footage that may assist the investigation, is being asked to contact police.

Steven Kantecki and his wife Sarah spent a pensioner's money on lavish designer goods, police say.

BBC Radio York

CCTV cameras are to be set up at a North Yorkshire beauty spot as part of the fight against fly-tippers.

The people who manage Raincliffe Woods and Forge Valley Woods, near Scarborough, say rubbish is being dumped at the 500-acre site several times a week.

As a result, the cameras are expected to be installed in car parks at Raincliffe and Forge Valley.

Paul Thompson (pictured), from the Raincliffe Woods Community Enterprise, says: "We can’t let this continue. The volume of rubbish being dumped is altering the woodland landscape.

"I want to install the cameras to catch people in the act. The best solution is to come down hard on these people by fining them."

A motorcyclist has been killed after colliding with two cars in North Yorkshire, police say.

Image source, Google

The crash happened on the B1222 between Cawood and Sherburn-in-Elmet at about midday on Sunday when a black Suzuki Gsx 1300 motorcycle collided with a white Ford Fiesta and a grey Seat Leon travelling in the opposite direction.

North Yorkshire Police say the motorcyclist, a 29-year-old man from Hull, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force say the occupants of the other vehicles sustained minor injuries.

Officers investigating the crash have appealed for witnesses or anyone who may have dash-cam footage of the vehicles involved to come forward

A man has been charged with damaging one of the sculptures on the Lincoln Imp trail.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

The artwork was found broken in half in Guildhall Street near to the Stone Bow in the early hours of Monday.

It is one of 30 sculptures dotted throughout the city as part of a fundraising campaign for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.

Lincolnshire Police said a 20-year-old man from Scunthorpe has been charged with criminal damage and is due to appear before Lincoln Magistrates' Court on 5 August.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Australia and New Zealand have pulled out of the Rugby League World Cup because of "player welfare and safety concerns" related to Covid-19.

Image source, Getty Images

The men's, women's and wheelchair events are scheduled to take place in England this autumn.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) have asked organisers if it can be rescheduled for 2022.

NZRL chief Greg Peters said it was "simply too unsafe" to take part.

Australia had been due to play their first game against Fiji in Hull on 23 October.

Fixtures are also due to be played in Doncaster, Huddersfield, Leeds, Sheffield and York.

BBC Weather

This morning, any mist will quickly clear to leave a very warm and sunny day for many. There is a small risk of an isolated, but heavy shower in the afternoon. However, most areas will stay dry.

After some evening sunshine, it will tend to cloud over from the east overnight. Mist and fog will begin to develop towards dawn. Remaining mild overnight.

North Yorkshire's county and district councils are to be scrapped and replaced with a single authority covering the whole county.

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City of York Council will remain separate but all others will be fused together under a new, unitary authority covering a population of 618,000.

The government decision comes after a consultation earlier this year.

It has been met with dismay by district and borough leaders who wanted to retain key services.

Under the reorganisation plans, the current two-tier system, which has been in place since 1974, will be replaced with a unitary authority.

Currently, services including social care and education are run by North Yorkshire County Council, while the districts look after areas including planning and bin collections.

It is expected that the new council will deliver all public services in the county from April 2023.

The family of a man who died with Covid after refusing vaccine are urging people to have their jabs.

BBC Radio York

A North Yorkshire MP says he is not surprised by a report which says coastal communities are under-served for healthcare.

Image source, Ceri Oakes

The government's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said seaside towns, like Scarborough, Whitby, and Filey, are physically beautiful but their residents can suffer from high rates of physical illness.

In response to the government report, external, Scarborough and Whitby's Conservative MP Robert Goodwill - who has been the MP for 16 years - said the findings were "hardly surprising" and it had been reported for "a long time".

"The government has done one or two things [to address health and deprivation]," he said, "but they have never really made a fundamental difference."

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the new Office for Health Promotion could make a positive difference.

"Those living in coastal areas clearly face different sets of challenges to those inland but everybody, no matter where they live, should have similar opportunities in education, housing, employment and health," he said.

A man has been arrested after one of the statues on Lincoln's Imps Trail was damaged.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Lincolnshire Police said the sculpture in Guildhall Street near to the Stone Bow was damaged in the early hours of Monday morning.

The force said following a CCTV review a 20-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

Sgt Paul Mayo said: "It is not only really disappointing for everyone hoping to enjoy the trail that one if its attractions aimed at celebrating art and culture has been marred by this act of criminal damage, it is also absolutely unacceptable.

"Whenever we have an issue with criminal damage, we will do everything in our power to find those responsible and prosecute them.”

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

A school has paid tribute to a 15-year-old boy who died after getting into trouble in a canal in West Yorkshire.

Image source, YappApp

Emergency services pulled the teenager, named locally as Caden Taylor, from the water in Stocking Lane, Knottingley, shortly before 18:00 on Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Chris McCall, the associate executive principal of De Lacy Academy, in Knottingley, said: "Caden was an extremely popular, kind and talented young man, with his whole future ahead of him.

"He was a very polite and always cheerful young man and his enthusiasm and positive outlook on life will be sorely missed by his teachers and fellow pupils.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time. Caden will be missed so much by all who knew him."

Sarah Wakefield
BBC Radio Leeds News

A charity says families will be dealing with the financial impact of Covid-19 for "years to come" and is calling on the government to provide extra support.

Image source, Getty Images

A report from Bradford-based Christians Against Poverty says the social security system is locking many people into poverty.

The charity has added its voice to calls for an extension of the temporary £20 a week increase to Universal Credit.

Its UK chief executive Paula Stringer said: “Removing £20 a week from claimants at this stage is equivalent to destroying the lifeboats on a sinking ship, leaving those aboard desperately fighting for survival – we fully expect this action to result in a sharp rise in debt and poverty."

The government says the £20 rise will be phased-out in the autumn and its focus is now on its "multi-billion pound Plan for Jobs" to support people in the long-term.

Garden waste collections in Barnsley are to be suspended due to an increasing number of staff being forced to self-isolate.

Barnsley Council say green bin collections will be suspended from 27 July until further notice.

A spokesperson said: "This pandemic is far from over, and we're in a situation where staff absences are the highest since the start of the pandemic. Our staff must follow Government rules and self-isolate to protect themselves, their families and our residents.

"We're not alone in this position. Many businesses, public services and our neighbouring councils are all dealing with the impact of having a reduced workforce alongside difficulties in getting support from agency workers due to a national shortage of HGV drivers.

"We know that this isn't ideal and will re-start the green bin collections as soon as possible. We ask for your patience and understanding, and we'll keep you updated."

An offal spillage at Scotch Corner is causing delays to traffic in the area.

Image source, Google

Two lanes on the northbound exit slip road at Junction 53 of the A1(M) are closed as a result of the spillage, which happened at about 18.20 on Tuesday.

Dave Wilson, from Highways England, said: “We have worked throughout the night with specialist equipment to clean this up, and are continuing to do so, to make this section of the road safe to travel on.

“We are urging drivers to plan ahead if travelling in this area, or to the Lake District via this route, as these lane closures are likely to be in place for the rest of the afternoon.”

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Public health officials are urging people in North East Lincolnshire to get vaccinated, keep wearing a face mask and obey self-isolation rules as the area deals with its highest ever rates of coronavirus.

Image source, SOPA/Getty

According to the latest data the infection rate in North East Lincolnshire sat at 1,012 per 100,000 people in the week to 16 July, the eighth highest in England.

The surge has previously been put down to the "perfect storm" of seaside visits and Euro 2020.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service three people died with coronavirus in the week to 16 July, Grimsby's A&E department is urging people not to go unless it is a genuine emergency and more than 2,000 children are self-isolating.

Geoff Barnes, Deputy Director for Public Health at North East Lincolnshire said getting vaccinated, continuing to wear a mask indoors and self-isolating when "pinged" could make all the difference in bringing rates down.

“We are seeing the highest Covid rates we’ve ever experienced in this area," he said.

"We need to remain extremely cautious, get our numbers down and get the virus under control quickly."

Campaigners hail a "warts and all" report into management of Welbeck Landfill Site near Wakefield.

BBC Radio Leeds

An underweight Chihuahua is being cared for at a rehoming centre after being found wandering the streets in Leeds.

Image source, Dogs Trust Leeds

The dog, who has been named Biggie by staff at the Dogs Trust’s Rehoming Centre, was found in Roundhay by a member of the public.

The Dogs Trust said when Biggie arrived he had an eye infection, injuries to his ears and had been through a "significant ordeal".

Now on the road to recovery the trust say they hope to find him a new home as nobody has come forward to claim him.